New Orleans streak conglomerate Tropical Isle ® , home of the city ’s far-famed Grenade ™ and Hand Grenade ® ™ ™ ® ® ™ cocktails are known for trashy , drinky , touristy fun , but when it come to their intellectual property , they do n’t play around . Tropical Isle ® ™ ™ ® ® ™ ™ ™ ® is suing a Wilmington , NC bar named Bourbon Street Wilmington for trademark infringement .
Tropical Isle ® ™ ™ ® ® ™ ™ ™ ® ® ™ ™ ™ ™ ® holds trademarks on its Hand Grenade ® ™ ® crime syndicate of products , include its mix and key signature neon green cup ( which look like a bong and a bridge player grenade had an alien baby ) and has a history of aggressively defending them . In 2013 , Tropical Isle mail Bourbon Street Wilmington a cease and desist notice after discovering that BSW had been purchasing Tropical Isle ’s Grenade mix ( deal for home - consumption only ) from the bar ’s online store and serving it to the populace . The two bar contact a small town in 2013 , with Bourbon Street Wilmington agree to stop over using the trademarked material . Now , however , it seems BSW has shift handwriting and the new owners are up to the same old magic trick .
As in the original case , Tropical Isle is seeking any profits realise via illegitimate drink sales , along with harm and court of justice price .
Flickr/Gary J. Wood
Hand Grenade inventor Pam Fortner excuse that the company goes so far as to offer a $ 250 reward to tipsters who help bring down copycats . All Tropical Isle employee are required to sign a confidentiality agreement in reference to the accurate Hand Grenade recipe .
concord to Louisiana - base nutrient historian Rien Fertel , Fortner and Tropical Isle co - founder Earl Bernhardt have defend the drink against 100 of trademark law offender since they unveiled it at the 1984 World ’s Fair . Fertel says the Hand Grenade ® ™ ™ ® ® ™ ™ ™ ® ® ™ ™ ™ ™ ® ® ™ ™ ® ® ® ® ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ® is “ the most litigated drink in New Orleans . ” Fortner narrate us only a few face have continue past the cease - and - desist letter of the alphabet stage .
Our advice to Bourbon Street : Daquirisare both delightful and trademark - free . Sure you do n’t get to service them in a cup that looks like the ' 80s threw up on the X - Files , and no , it does n’t taste like a radioactive Jolly Rancher , but it will keep you out of court .
