Redbubble Didn’t Violate Trademark by Selling Shirts Bearing Pun

Redbubble Inc. didn’t violate trademark law by allowing artists to sell goods on its website bearing a pun trademarked as a company name.

Plaintiff LTTB LLC alleged that Redbubble infringed on its trademarks for the pun “LETTUCE TURNIP THE BEET.”

The claims fail because LTTB didn’t show that purchasers of the items on Redbubble were confused about who produced the items, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said July 12.

LTTB could pursue a claim for marketing a product misleadingly suggesting it was made by LTTB, the court said.

But it can’t bar others from merely ...