Starting a new business is an exciting venture, and for many entrepreneurs, a catchy brand name for their company or products is the first step toward success. In recent years, companies—especially breweries, wineries, and toy manufacturers—have adopted parody trademarks to garner attention for their products. A clever and humorous parody mark can be an amusing way to stand out, but it also carries significant risks. A “parody trademark” is a mark that uses an existing brand in a satirical or humorous manner. These marks take recognizable elements from the original and change them with a humorous twist to create a new commercial impression. However, a parody must be perceived by consumers as a critique or joke, rather than as an indication of an affiliation between the businesses. If the parody mark uses a well-known brand’s recognition to sell its own products, it may be deemed infringing by the owner of the pre-existing brand, even when such use is consi

DP&F Managing Partner John Trinidad and Intellectual Property lead Scott Gerien will speak at the International AIDV-IWLA Conference 2025 this week in Verona, Italy, October 17 - 19, 2025. This year’s conference recognizes forty years of the International Wine Law Association (AIDV-IWLA). John will speak on the panel “Channels of Trade,” in discussion of international sales and distribution contracts, channels of trade/retail environment, and labelling. Scott will speak in the session, “Geographical Indications and Trademarks,” on the topics of co-branding, sponsoring, and exploring the issue of genericness.  About AIDV-IWLA The Association Internationale des Juristes du Droit de la Vigne et du Vin (AIDV) was founded in 1985 by European and American lawyers, with the aim of creating a forum for studies and debates on legal questions affecting the wine community and wine trade. Today AIDV-IWLA has more than 300 members, both individual and institut