Daryl Hall and John Oates. Associated Press
When a small-batch granola company from Brooklyn unveiled its newest product this spring, it caught the attention of ’80s rockers Daryl Hall and John Oates. That’s because the granola maker named it Haulin’ Oats, and the musicians were not amused.
Like many other musicians, Hall and Oates take their IP seriously.
In addition to having the marks protected on all manner of merchandise and music, the performers already own the trademark for Haulin’ Oats and licensed it last year to another food purveyor.
The singing duo’s Whole Oats Enterprises sued Brooklyn-based Early Bird Foods over its use of their trademark, claiming that the granola infringed its trademarks and service marks. The complaint calls the Early Bird cereal “an obvious play” and a “phonetic play” on the singers’ well-known marks.
The complaint is a slam dunk, says New York trademark lawyer Gregory Gulia of Duane Morris, who is not representing the musicians.
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Hall and Oates sue food company over Haulin’ Oats granola.
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