Thread: Company wins ruling barring T-shirt sales that mock Vikings

From the Grand Forks Herald;
Posted on Wed, Dec. 07, 2005

[size=18px]Company wins ruling barring T-shirt sales that mock Vikings[/size]

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - A judge issued a preliminary injunction against the maker of T-shirts that refer to a Minnesota Vikings party on boats operated by a Lake Minnetonka company.

Hennepin County District Judge Harry Crump granted the injunction Tuesday against Jason L. Gabbert, Metropolitan Collectibles and others, ruling that they can no longer make, advertise, display, distribute or sell the shirts or any other merchandise using the boat company's name. Crump issued a temporary restraining order last month.

The shirts, with a drawing of a yacht titled the "MINNETONKA CRUISE LINES" and "S.S. VIKING," proclaim in large letters "I Got Laid at Al and Alma's."

Some Vikings players had a party on two of Al and Alma's boats in October and were accused of unruly behavior. Authorities have been investigating whether players were involved in sexual misconduct on the boats. No players have been charged.

In court Tuesday, an attorney for Al & Alma's, Stephen Doyle, argued that the shirts hurt the company's reputation by giving it a negative connotation.

Gabbert, who represented himself, argued that the shirts are a free-speech-protected parody.

In his ruling, Crump said the shirts "may involve unflattering thoughts" about the boat company in the minds of consumers, potentially portraying it in an "unwholesome and unsavory light."

While artistic works and political, social or literary criticisms may be protected under the parody defense, commercial speech, "namely use of another's trademark in a humorous fashion to sell a product," is not protected, Crump found.

Hell all he needs to do is change it to say A & A's and he would be fine.

The T-Shirt is lame! He couldn't come up with something better than that?

Vikings go down at Al & Alma's

Or

Vikings rape & pillage at Al & Alma's


At least come up with something worth selling before you waste your money trying to defend it in court!

He is right a little about the free speech. But hey the company wants to put this behind them and they should be able too.