Dive Brief:
- Hershey has filed a lawsuit against a Maryland state Senator Stephen S. Hershey Jr.
- The chocolate company told a federal court that the Republican, who is seeking election to a post to which he was appointed last year, is violating its trademark by using campaign materials that mimic the iconic candy bars.
- The state Senator and the chocolate company have been fighting off and on about the issue since 2002, when he first ran for public office.
Dive Insight:
This has been a busy few days for the trademark lawyers at Hershey. Just last week came news that the company was suing a marijuana dispensary for allegedly ripping off the Reese's trademark.
In many -- perhaps even most -- trademark cases, the aggrieved company tends to come across as a bit silly. But in this case, perhaps it's Sen. Hershey who doesn't come across well. In a defense of his actions, the Senator says the chocolate company is "infringing on my constitutional rights of freedom of speech, freedom of association, and participation as a candidate in the political process."