VPX Accuses Monster of ‘Weaponizing’ Third-Party Settlement

In a new front in the trademark war between energy drink rivals VPX Sports and Monster Energy Co., VPX accused Monster in Los Angeles federal court of trying to “weaponize” VPX’s settlement with another company to “collaterally assault VPX’s right to compete within the energy drink space.”

According to the complaint, Monster induced fruit-drink maker Orange Bang Inc. to request arbitration under a dormant settlement agreement and add it to the proceeding.

VPX first sued Monster in Florida, arguing Monster’s “Reign” line of low-calorie, low-sugar energy drinks infringes VPX’s trademarks and trade dress. VPX argued it owned an earlier ...