New York Yankees: Don’t Criticize Us, We Have Thin Skin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) April 14, 2009 --

New York, NY – April 14, 2009 – The New York Yankees Partnership has opposed Steven Lore’s and IET Products and Services, Inc.’s federal trademark applications for the marks THE HOUSE THAT JUICE BUILT and a design mark which the Yankees claim is similar to its baseball, bat and Uncle Sam hat logo for mugs and clothing, respectively. IET is Lore’s company. They Yankees Partnership asserts that Lore’s and IET’s marks infringe its own registrations for THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT and Yankees Design mark, are immoral and scandalous, and bring disrepute to the Yankees Partnership and its marks.

The Yankees claim that there exists a likelihood of confusion between its marks and the applied-for marks. However, Lore and IET believe their marks provide timely social commentary concerning the ongoing allegations of illegal steroid use by Yankees team members, which have resurfaced with greater intensity in recent months, and illegal drug use generally. “Juice” refers to illegal performance-enhancing steroids. Lore’s and IET’s marks are distinctly anti-drug in nature.

However, Lore and IET think that the Yankees are abusing U.S. trademark law to silence speech that the Yankees do not like. It is natural that the Yankees want to reduce the amount of publicity that is dedicated to allegations of illegal steroid use.

“It may be embarrassing for them [the Yankees]. However, our clients’ marks are quintessential examples of acceptable parody. When you’re big and famous, you have to learn to take criticism. We are confident that IET and Mr. Lore will be able to defend their applications and obtain registrations of their marks. If the Yankees want to avoid embarrassing publicity, they should avoid embarrassing conduct. It is a shame that the Yankees are wasting the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office’s time and resources on these meritless claims,” G. Mathew Lombard, partner at Lombard & Geliebter LLP, which is representing Lore and IET, said. “‘The house that Ruth built’ was coined long ago in 1923 purportedly by New York Evening Telegram reporter Fred Lieb – not the Yankees – the evening the first game was played in the original Yankee Stadium. Ironically, the Yankees have abandoned the actual ‘house that Ruth built,’” he added.

“I was surprised when the Yankees first contacted me. The Trademark Office did not think there was any problem. Then, out of the blue, I got a call from the Yankees’ lawyer. I don’t see any chance of confusion here. If the Yankees think their brand is being tarnished, they should look in the mirror – not at me,” Lore said.

The documents which have been filed in this proceeding may be found at . Further updates may be viewed at the same site.