Music

Snoop Dogg battles Toronto Maple Leafs over marijuana leaf logo

by Jeremy Mersereau

Calvin Broadus Jr. is a man of many talents: rapper, reggae artist, subpar pitcher, and oh yeah, Weed Lord Supreme. But becoming the world’s designated marijuana czar (well, one of them) comes with its own responsibilities and challenges, like becoming embroiled in legal battle with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

Back in November, Snoop filed a trademark application for his Leafs By Snoop brand with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office, in a bid to sell weed-related products emblazoned with a 7-point gold leaf logo. Seems easy enough… until MLSE filed an opposition to Snoop’s proposed logo, asking for the patent office to grant them more time to put together a more detailed argument against the rapper’s trademark.

MLSE declined to comment on the reasoning behind their opposition, but come on, we know why – the logos both include the word “leafs” in white lettering across plant organs. “The Maple Leafs might say that their brand has been tarnished by confusion over Snoop’s new logo,” NYU intellectual properties professor Christopher Sprigman told TSN. “That’s quaint but a tough argument. I don’t see a lot of overlap between Colorado pot smokers and Maple Leafs fans.” Hey man, ever hear of illegal sports streams? There’s probably more of an overlap than you might think.

Sprigman continued: “The Maple Leafs would have to successfully argue that the general U.S. consuming public, elderly adults, young adults and children across the country, are familiar with and identify with the Leafs logo. I don’t think that’s true. Maybe in hockey markets, but I really don’t see the Leafs being a familiar brand in Iowa or Arkansas or other non-hockey cities”.

Snoop’s lawyer did not return TSN’s request for comment. Snoop’s new album, Coolaid, is due out July 1st, and the album art will hopefully come complete with a trademark-infringing penguin logo.

[h/t CBC]