A jury has unanimously found Elements Spirits Inc. and its founder liable for trade dress infringement of Globefill Inc.’s Crystal Head, a vodka created by actor Dan Aykroyd and sold in a skull-shaped container. Globefill Inc. v. Elements Spirits Inc., No. 10-­2034 (C.D. Cal., verdict entered March 29, 2017). Just before the case went to jury deliberation, Globefill called a final rebuttal witness, a sculptor who testified that the founder of Elements Spirits asked him in 2009 to create a mold of the Crystal Head skull bottle that served as the base for Elements Spirits’ Kah tequila bottles. After four hours of deliberation, the jury concluded the three-­week trial with a verdict for Globefill. See Law360, March 29, 2017.

 

Issue 629

About The Author

For decades, manufacturers, distributors and retailers at every link in the food chain have come to Shook, Hardy & Bacon to partner with a legal team that understands the issues they face in today's evolving food production industry. Shook attorneys work with some of the world's largest food, beverage and agribusiness companies to establish preventative measures, conduct internal audits, develop public relations strategies, and advance tort reform initiatives.

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