Honest Greens Advances US Trademark Claims Against Poky's

Honest Greens Barcelona SAU, a Spanish restaurant operator without US locations, has cleared a key hurdle in its federal lawsuit against Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based Poky’s LLC. A US District Court judge ruled on September 2 that the complaint plausibly alleges federal false association and cybersquatting claims, along with state common-law trademark and unfair competition counts.

The dispute centers on allegations that the South Carolina restaurant intentionally copied the Honest Greens name, creating a likelihood of confusion among US consumers. The court denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss most claims, allowing the case to proceed.

This development permits the Spanish chain to continue pursuing remedies including injunctive relief and damages. The ruling underscores the reach of US trademark law to foreign brand owners seeking to protect their marks against domestic copycats even without direct US operations.

Sources: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/spanish-restaurants-honest-greens-trademark-suit-advances https://www.lawcommentary.com/articles/trader-joes-loses-bid-to-dismiss-smuckers-uncrustables-trademark-claim