by Ben Nuelle
USDA?s Agriculture Marketing Service approves National Pork Board?s purchase of ?The other white meat? trademark from National Pork Producers Council. AMS approves continuing annual payments of $3 million under the terms of the purchase agreement.
In 2012, HSUS filed a lawsuit challenging the sale prompting AMS to review the sale of four trademarks from National Pork Producers Council to National Pork Board.
David Warner with National Pork Producers Council.
?The short answer is the Humane Society is trying to deny the National Pork Producers Council money that we can use to lobby against things the Humane society has been pushing.?
He says this isn?t the first time HSUS has filed a lawsuit against them.
?It?s filed other frivolous lawsuits and it?s done it as a way, even though the actions have no merit, we still have to expend funds to defend it or expend energy to say this is our side of the story rather than using that time, effort and money for things we?re supposed to be doing for pork producers.?
According to AMS, the value of this trademark is estimated at $113 million to $132 million. The Board continues to use one trademark (?pork? in distinctive lettering set against a chop silhouette) in its primary advertising campaign and features all trademarks on its Web site. The Board may use all trademarks in any form in the future, and is also able to prevent others from using the trademarks.
In addition, state pork councils also use the trademarks. Requiring the Board and state pork councils to desist from using these trademarks would be costly and disruptive.
