Snoop In Legal Battle With Maple Leafs (Video)

wwetvsports21
Jun 22, 2016
2 min read

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) attempting to block Snoop Dogg from trademarking Leafs By Snoop.

According to TSN (news video report), the popular Snoop Dogg shown above on the Arsenio Hall show talking about his rap battle with Eazy E in the early 90's has found himself in a another battle, but this time with Toronto Maple Leafs over their logo. MLSE (parent company to the Toronto Maple Leafs) are not pleased with the similarities in logo with Snoop's new marijuana line. Both logos feature a plant with several leafs, and the company's name on top of the leaf in a similar font.

June 8 a motion was filed against Snoop and MLSE wishes to get more time to make a case for its opposition. Christopher Sprigman, an intellectual properties professor explained to TSN how MLSE could argue against Snoop's Leafs By Snoop logo.

“The Maple Leafs might say that their brand has been tarnished by confusion over Snoop’s new logo," Sprigman said. "That’s quaint but a tough argument. I don’t see a lot of overlap between Colorado pot smokers and Maple Leafs fans.

“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,” he added. “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 said he planned to use the logo on products such as cigarette lighters. Among the products sold by Leafs By Snoop are cannabis flower, edibles, and concentrates.