Sourpea News

Sweet Pea lawsuit dismissed...

Complete Resolution of Sweet Pea Lawsuit Reveals Power of the Internet

The Soupeas, an ad-hoc organization of the 52 Sweet Pea defendants in the trademark lawsuit filed by Sweet Pea, Ltd. is happy to announce that the case has been voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff for all 52 of the Sweet Pea defendants. For the many Sweet Pea defendants that settled recently for no cost, though details can't be revealed, we can definitely say that it was done in our favor and that it particularly addresses our key creative and legal issues. For the very few that paid settlement fees earlier on, their settlements have been returned.

There's been a lot of serious media interest in the Sourpeas. A number of additional media outlets are set to run stories soon...Stay tuned!

Daytona Beach News-Journal April 13, 2006
Is There Sweet Pea Confusion in the Marketplace?
Click here for the article

CNET April 8, 2006
Sweet Pea story has a sweet ending...
Click here for the article

San Francisco Chronicle April 7, 2006
Sweet Pea suit ends, but sour taste lingers...
Click here for the article

Miami Herald April 6, 2006
A heated battle over the use of the term "Sweet Pea" on apparel ends in a settlement. All sides claim victory...
Click here for the article

Bradenton Herald April 5, 2006
Sweet Pea, Ltd. settles suit with little peas...
Click here for the article

Miami Herald April 5, 2006
Sweet Pea, Ltd. settles suit with little peas...
Click here for the article

Electronic Frontier Foundation April 4, 2006
Sourpeas Taste Sweet Victory...
Click here for the article.

Seattle Times March 15, 2006
This Designer Proves She's No Pushover...
The Sourpeas, noting that it wasn't warned first with a cease-and-desist letter, called the suit an attempt to scare it into a quick cash settlement.
Click here for the article

Marin Independant Journal March 15, 2006
Click here for the article

Tracy Press March 15, 2006
Click here for the article

AOL News March 14, 2006
Click here for the article

Monterey County Herald March 14, 2006
Click here for the article

Press Enterprise March 14, 2006
Click here for the article

San Luis Obispo Tribune March 14, 2006
Click here for the article

Contra Costa Times March 14, 2006
Click here for the article

San Jose Mercury News March 14, 2006
Baby Clothing Battle Lands in Court Over Sweet Pea Trademark...
"It seems like a vicious attack on mom and pop shops..."
Click here for the article

NBC 11 San Francisco March 14, 2006
Sweet Pea Trademark Lands in Court...
"It's the large clothing manufacturer going after the garage sale," Mudd said. "The plaintiff's intent is not so much to cease the infringement, it is to force a settlement."
Click here for the article

The San Francisco Chronicle March 14, 2006
Internet Makes Sweet Pea Get Tough...
Patent-holder tells little clothiers: Pay $5,000 or $16 million..."Their methods involve a shot-gun approach to attacking the smallest shops on the Web, without even sending the normal cease-and-desist letter."
Click here for the article

The Miami Herald March 7, 2006
Miami-based Sweet Pea Ltd. sues retailers in trademark case...
''This is [Sweet Pea's] primary brand,'' Barthet said. ``They are not in a position to rest on their laurels and let others trade on their name so that five to 10 years from now Sweet Pea becomes like Kleenex or Xerox -- a generic term.'' Some would argue that Sweet Pea already is a generic term. After all, it's a garden variety climbing plant and the name of Olive Oyl's baby in the Popeye cartoons...
Click here for the article

Library and Information Science News March 6, 2006
Trademark suit leaves some with a sour taste...
Click here for the article.

Electronic Frontier Foundation February 24, 2006
Trademark not Sweet for "Sweet Peas"...
Click here for the article.

Pittsburgh Tribune Review February 23, 2006
Interview with Melanie
Suit Not So Sweet for Ross Woman...
Click here for the article.

Lots of interest on the online publications and blogs out there. Check out what people are saying about the Sourpeas...

USC Online Journalism April 12, 2006
Sweet Pea has happy ending...
Click here for the article.

Digital Copyright Canada April 12, 2006
Sweet Pea has happy ending...
Click here for the article.

The Network Administrator April 12, 2006
Soutpeas story has a sweet ending...
Click here for the article.

Tailrank April 12, 2006
Sweet Pea has happy ending...
Click here for the article.

The Knowledge Zone April 8, 2006
Soutpeas story has a sweet ending...
Click here for the article.

Hosting Discussion April 8, 2006
Soutpeas story has a sweet ending...
Click here for the article.

Future Sciences April 8, 2006
Soutpeas story has a sweet ending...
Click here for the article.

Baby Clothes Care April 8, 2006
Sweet Pea suit ends, but sour taste lingers...
Click here for the article.

College Apparel March 20, 2006
This Sweet Pea designer proves she's no pushover...
Click here for the article.

C4 Chaos March 15, 2006
Sweet Pea, Sourpeas, Sourpussies...
Click here for the article.

SurfWax News March 15, 2006
Internet makes sweet pea get tough...
Click here for the article.

Okawatees March 15, 2006
Veggie war erupts over the term Sweet Pea...
Click here for the article.

TMC On the Net March 15, 2006
This Designer is no Pushover...
Click here for the article.

PHP Nuke March 14, 2006
Trademark Holder Flexes Muscles...
Click here for the article.

Daily Ramblings March 7, 2006
Sourpeas and where we're headed...
Click here for the article.

The Trademark Blog March 6, 2006
CafePress sellers sued Re Sweet Pea...
Click here for the article.

Yet Another Blog March 6, 2006
CafePress is great but this is a sincere warning...
Click here for the article.

Crazy Dazes March 6, 2006
When Sweet Peas Go Sour
Click here for the article.

EBSQ zine March 1, 2006
...an important case of which artists representing their own work should be aware...
Click here for the article.

Quatloos February 27, 2006
Sweet and Sour Peas: Frauds and Scams
Click here for the article.

Spero News February 24, 2006
Veggie war erupts over use of term, "Sweet Pea"....
Click here for the article.

Shopping Brains February 24, 2006
Sweet Peas Sours...
Click here for the article.

Star Affiliate Program February 24, 2006
52 Cafe Press Affiliate and Marketers Sued for $16 Million...
Click here for the article.

BIgg News February 23, 2006
Legal Battle Over Term of Endearment...
Click here for the article.

Lawgeek February 23, 2006
Miami attorney mimics RIAA, DirecTV tactics in "Sweet Pea" Trademark Litigation....Welcome to the world of factory litigation..."I would think that this style of litigation would be trademarked. Surely the RIAA plans to sue this guy for using their lawsuit style..."
Click here for the article.

• Charles Mudd, Jr. is named as lead attorney for the Sourpeas joint legal defense. Go to the Media page for more information.

• For an amusing example of "prior art" of the use of "sweet pea" in a commercial environment, go to the Resources page.

• A wonderful example of how many other clothing companies are using the words "sweet pea" quite comfortably and yet fear nothing from the plaintiff's attorney on the Resources page.

The Sour Peas opened themselves up to the press today. Here's a link to our press release.