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Can You Sue Over a Sandwich? Inside the Smuckers vs. Trader Joe’s Trade Dress Fight

Can You Sue Over a Sandwich? Inside the Smuckers vs. Trader Joe’s Trade Dress Fight

Update: 2025-11-14
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In this segment of "Intellectual Property News" on Passage to Profit Show, co-hosts Richard Gearhart and Elizabeth Gearhart dive into one of the most unexpected legal battles of the year: Smuckers vs. Trader Joe’s in a fight over the iconic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What sounds like a schoolyard squabble is actually a high-stakes trade dress dispute worth nearly a billion dollars in annual product sales. We break down what trade dress really means, how companies can protect the look and feel of their products—even without patents or trademarks—and why this juicy sandwich showdown matters for entrepreneurs and creators everywhere.


 


Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a startup, an inventor, an innovator, a small business or just starting your entrepreneurial journey, tune into Passage to Profit Show for compelling discussions, real-life examples, and expert advice on entrepreneurship, intellectual property, trademarks and more. Visit https://passagetoprofitshow.com/ for the latest updates and episodes.

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Can You Sue Over a Sandwich? Inside the Smuckers vs. Trader Joe’s Trade Dress Fight

Can You Sue Over a Sandwich? Inside the Smuckers vs. Trader Joe’s Trade Dress Fight

Richard and Elizabeth Gearhart