A Fight Over Dees(z) Nuts(z)
Ok I know how this sounds. But this is an actual, real, lawsuit. Late last week, Dees Nuts sued Mr. Beast’s Feastables over the use of “Deez Nutz.”
(Willy Wonka voice) grab a snack and sit down while I explain how we got here.
Dees is in the business of, well, nuts. Flavored nuts to be more precise. And said nuts are found at (or as the complaint eloquently states, exposed to) a variety of different convenience stores, supermarkets, and events. Prominently featured on the packaging is an older lady with the phrase “Dee’s Nuts” on the front. As you probably guessed, “Dee’s Nuts” is trademarked (and has been since 2012).
Well, unfortunately for Dees, YouTube/Internet mega-celebrity, Mr. Beast brought Deez Nutz to the shelves of retailers. To the surprise of no one, Deez Nutz made big waves and has overwhelmed the market. According to Dees, a search of “dees nuts” on Walmart.com results in mostly results for Mr. Beast, his company, or Deez Nutz. Simply put, Dees claims Deez Nuts infringes on their trademark and creates confusion in the marketplace.
That’s the gist of the lawsuit. Or is it the nuts and bolts? Alright, I’ll stop.