Bacardi Accused of Stealing Black-Owned Distiller’s Vodka Slogan

Bacardi copied a vodka slogan submitted to it by an applicant for a grant for small Black-owned distilleries, according to a trademark lawsuit filed in federal Texas court.

Timeless Spirits and Drinks LLC said in a Monday complaint in the US District Court in the Southern District of Texas that Bacardi USA Inc.'s widespread use of “Make Moments Matter” infringes the “Timeless Vodka, Moments Matter, Make Them Timeless” mark the smaller distiller registered in 2020.

Bacardi’s use began the year after Timeless Spirits applied for the grant from the spirits giant, which denied the grant and tried to register its ...