Mister Softee Investigates "Rip-Off Trucks"
Policing your marks can be difficult and expensive, particularly when the infringers are on wheels.
This New York Times report follows the efforts of
Mister Softee, the largest franchisor of soft ice cream trucks in the United States, to shut down infringing trucks. The company hired private investigators to identify independent ice cream trucks that resemble the Mister Softee vehicles in their color scheme, logos or jingle. The investigation turned up hundreds of operators who paint their ice cream trucks blue and white and create menu boards and logos identical to Mister Softee's, including the company's famous cone-head trademark. According to the investigators, they have gathered enough evidence against 30 operators of "rip-off trucks" in New York City and on Long Island for Mister Softee to bring trademark and copyright infringement lawsuits against them.
Posted by franchiselawblog at September 5, 2005 10:28 AM