An executive with a liquor distributor that brands its products with a name often associated with Mardi Gras says its trademark was registered without any intention of infringing on the trademarks of a famous New Orleans Carnival organization.
Last week, The Rex Organization filed a federal lawsuit claiming that Rex Spirits Inc. is unlawfully combining the Rex name with Mardi Gras images to market products under the name "King REX Spirits."
In a written release responding to the lawsuit, Desi Ortiz of Rex Spirits says that the company considers its brand to be separate from that of The Rex Organization. Ortiz notes that the company provides a commodity while the historic Carnival group provides charitable nonprofit services.
A trial date for the lawsuit has not been set.