In a most interesting and entertaining article,
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES TIMES
is reporting that
Vince McMahon doesn't want anyone thinking his
wrestling superstars are a bunch of wine-tasting wimps.
McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has told the American Wine
Foundation, parent of the Wine School of Philadelphia with the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office, that it is infringing on its copyright by calling one of its
wine classes "Sommelier Smackdown." As any WWE fan knows, "Smackdown" is the
name of one of its most popular franchises.
In a letter to the Wine School of Philadelphia, the WWE told the wine
sippers that its use of the word "smackdown" is "likely to create consumer
confusion as to WWE's affiliation, sponsorship and/or approval" of the class.
Yes, because we all know how similar the demo is of wine snobs and wrestling
fanatics.
American Wine Foundation President Keith Wallace knows he's
outgunned, but he's still going to try to a few rounds with the WWE (sorry for
the mixed metaphor).
"We can't go toe to toe with this national multi-corporation,"
Wallace says, mixing his metaphors as well. Wallace does think he has a case.
"Smackdown is not a term they can protect. ... `Sommelier Smackdown' is clearly
a parody. It's just a big company trying to bully a small firm." Wallace notes
that WWE has hundreds of employees, "and I have five."
A WWE spokesman says it went after American Wine Foundation only
after the foundation tried to file a trademark application for "Sommelier
Smackdown."
"It's not us going after piddly little Joe Blow here," the spokesman
said. "We do own the trademark, and we created the term `Smackdown.' "
Let's save everyone including the poor bureaucrats at the patent
office time and money here. How about the wine snobs send McMahon, Chris Jericho
and everyone else at WWE a few cases of the grape and in return WWE will let the
wine folks keep their bones intact.
