- Stanley Black and Decker is suing the maker of Stanley cups, saying it has violated a long-standing agreement. The company is looking to prevent the mug manufacturer from using the Stanley name going forward and seeking monetary compensation.
There’s a new fight regarding the Stanley cup—and this one has nothing to do with the NHL or Target shoppers.
Stanley Black and Decker is suing the maker of Stanley mugs, saying the company that makes the popular drinkware has violated an agreement that outlined when and where it could use the Stanley name.
Pacific Market International (PMI) is the manufacturer of the cups, which have amassed a cult-like following. At the heart of the tussle is last year’s recall of 2.6 million Stanley cups. Stanley Black and Decker says that recall made it seem the defective products came from its own company, rather than the true manufacturer, which could impact its sale of other products.
Beyond tools, Stanley Black and Decker also sells branded products including clothing, gloves, and hats.
“PMI has willfully and intentionally ignored the carefully crafted restrictions of the parties’ agreement, choosing instead to use Stanley broadly, including in ways that the parties’ agreement expressly prohibited and that infringe on Stanley’s trademark rights,” the lawsuit states.
PMI, in a statement, refuted the claims of Stanley Black and Decker, saying it had the brand rights for the product it sells and it plans to vigorously defend itself in the dispute.
“We own the ‘Stanley’ brand in the Food and Beverage container category. Stanley Black & Decker’s Complaint takes aim at our century-old Stanley brand, apparently seeking to exploit our success and undermine over a century of innovation and hard work developing our food and beverage containment products.” said Matt Navarro, PMI WW Brands, LLC’s Global President. “Protecting and defending our brand is crucial.”
Stanley Black and Decker is looking to prohibit PMI from using the name moving forward and seeking compensation.
Stanley (the toolmaker) was founded in 1843. The lawsuit alleges Stanley and PMI predecessor Aladdin initially signed a contract in 1966 limiting its use of the Stanley name to “insulated containers adapted to keep their contents hot or cold.” An updated agreement was signed in 2012. The lawsuit alleges PMI has stopped including PMI in its company name and changed it to “Stanley.”
“PMI’s breach of contract and trademark infringement poses an imminent threat of irreparable harm to Stanley, the Stanley brand, and the goodwill and advantageous business relationships that Stanley has earned by using Stanley in commerce for almost two centuries,” the suit alleges.
