Certain companies are known for zealously protecting their intellectual property. Giants like Disney and Apple frequently send cease and desist letters to safeguard their copyrights. While most of these orders are routine, some stand out for their humor, shock value, or sheer outrageousness. Here are 10 of the most interesting cease and desist orders ever issued.
Bud Light Sent Modist Brewing a Medieval C&D
On December 1, 2017, Modist Brewing Co. launched their Dilly Dilly Mosaic Double IPA. Just hours later, Bud Light—famous for using “dilly dilly” in its medieval-themed ads—sent Modist Brewing an unusual cease and desist letter. A medieval-style town crier showed up at Modist’s office, reading the C&D from a scroll.
The crier declared that Bud Light permitted Modist to sell its current batch but forbade future use of the name. Referencing Bud Light’s commercials, the message warned that non-compliance “shall be met with additional scrolls, then with a formal warning, and finally a private tour of the pit of misery.”
The video of this event went viral. Modist claimed they weren’t in on the gag, stating, “Nope. Not even for a dillisecond.”
The Lord of the Rings vs. The Lord of the Bins
After losing their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan Walker and Nick Lockwood started The Lord of the Bins, a waste disposal company. Besides punning on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, they used a typeface similar to the film adaptations’ titles. Their motto echoed the fantasy series: “One ring to remove it all.”
The Brighton-based company soon received a cease and desist order from Middle Earth Enterprises, which owns the film and merchandising rights to Tolkien’s series. They demanded Walker and Lockwood change the name and tagline.
“It’s just bully-boy tactics,” Lockwood told The Sun. Despite believing their business wouldn’t harm The Lord of the Rings, Walker said, “We can’t afford to fight them. We’re just trying to make people smile and make a living.”
T-Mobile Is Protective of Pink
T-Mobile fiercely protects the pink color of their logo, technically Pantone’s Rhodamine Red U. Former CEO John Legere always sported the color, from his T-shirt to his shoes and even sometimes his hair.
In 2014, T-Mobile sued rival AT&T for using a plum color in marketing for its subsidiary Aio Wireless. Judge Lee Rosenthal sided with T-Mobile, stating that the similar colors could confuse customers into thinking Aio was affiliated with T-Mobile.
T-Mobile doesn’t just target direct competitors. They’ve also sent cease and desist letters to an IT firm, a smartwatch maker, and an insurance company. While T-Mobile is militant about its magenta shade, others have trademarked colors, like Tiffany blue, Barbie pink, and UPS brown.
A Napoleon Dynamite Actor Sent a C&D to His Twin Brother
Efren Ramirez, famous for playing Pedro Sánchez in Napoleon Dynamite (2004), saw the film’s success strain his relationship with his identical twin, Carlos Ramirez. Carlos began attending events as Efren when Efren was unavailable. In 2008, Carlos told TMZ he attended an event without Efren’s knowledge “as I was being immature and wanted to get back at him for a personal matter which involved the girl I was dating at the time.”
When Efren found out, he sent Carlos a cease and desist order, threatening a $10 million lawsuit if he impersonated him again. Carlos stopped immediately, hoping to one day mend their relationship. “I think it’s safe to say the magnitude of Napoleon Dynamite and everything that has come along with it has ruined my relationship with my twin,” he said.
Netflix Shut Down a Stranger Things Bar
In the summer of 2017, brothers Danny and Doug Marks opened a Stranger Things-themed pop-up bar in Logan Square, Chicago. Named The Upside Down, it featured themed cocktails—like the syrup-flavored Eleven’s Eggos—and the iconic Christmas tree light alphabet wall. The bar became an instant hit, and the brothers hoped to keep it open through October for Season 2’s premiere and Halloween.
Shortly after opening, the Marks received a humorous cease and desist letter filled with references to the show. “Unless I’m living in the Upside Down, I don’t think we did a deal with you for this pop-up,” Netflix wrote. They were allowed to finish their initial six-week run but had to close afterward. The letter concluded, “We love our fans more than anything, but you should know that the demogorgon is not always as forgiving. So please don’t make us call your mom.”
In-N-Out Sent a Punny C&D to Seven Stills Brewery
In July 2018, San Francisco’s Seven Stills Brewery announced a “Neopolitan milkshake stout” styled after In-N-Out. Called In-N-Stout, the can’s design mirrored the fast-food chain’s red, white, and yellow colors and iconic palm tree design.
Seven Stills co-owner Tim Obert said they “expected to receive the cease and desist,” but the puns in the letter surprised them. In-N-Out stated that the “use of our marks by third parties ales us” and “we are attempting to clearly distill our rights by crafting an amicable approach with you, rather than barrel through this.”
Seven Stills complied, releasing the stout with a different name and packaging.
Carl Sagan Sued Apple
Apple is notorious for aggressively sending C&Ds to those using “pod” or an apple in their logo (even pears!). But Apple faced its own medicine in the early ’90s when their Power Mac 7100 was codenamed “Carl Sagan.”
The name was picked due to Sagan’s catchphrase “billions and billions,” reflecting Apple’s hopes for massive sales (which didn’t materialize). However, the astronomer worried his name implied endorsement.
After Sagan sent a cease and desist letter, Apple changed the codename to “BHA” for “Butt-Head Astronomer.” He sued Apple for libel. When that failed, he then sued for the initial unauthorized use of his name. They settled out of court.
The final codename became “LAW” for “Lawyers Are Wimps.”
George Lucas Sent a C&D to Queen
Freddie Mercury’s performances were legendary. During Queen’s tours in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Mercury would emerge for the encore on the shoulders of a buff security guard dressed as Superman or Santa Claus. Walt Versen, Queen’s head of security, suggested dressing as Darth Vader, given the popularity of Star Wars.
Verson-as-Vader heard Mercury perform “We Will Rock You” from below around a dozen times, describing it as “a unique experience” in a 2019 interview. When the Vader costume was suddenly dropped, Verson later learned George Lucas disapproved of his character being Mercury’s ride and sent a cease and desist letter.
Though Lucas wasn’t a fan, the crowd loved it. Photographer Tom Callins, who captured an iconic image of Freddie riding the Star Wars villain, said, “Everybody just thought it was so funny, so Freddie.”
Taco John’s Didn’t Want Anyone Else Using the Phrase “Taco Tuesday”
“Taco Tuesday” is a widespread slogan used by eateries to promote discounted tacos on Tuesdays. Despite its ubiquity, Taco John’s held the trademark for years, sending cease and desist letters to businesses using it.
Taco John’s boasted on their website: “Ever hear of Taco Tuesday®? We started it! We even trademarked it. That’s how seriously we take tacos.” While they trademarked it, they didn’t invent it in the ’80s as they claimed. Thrillist reports evidence of Tuesday taco deals dating back to 1933, with the exact phrase “Taco Tuesday” traced to 1973.
Despite the C&D letters, the phrase continued to spread. In 2023, Taco Bell petitioned to cancel Taco John’s trademark, arguing the phrase “should be freely available to all who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos.” Taco John’s conceded, with CEO Jim Creel stating that “paying millions of dollars to lawyers to defend our mark just doesn’t feel like the right thing to do.”
The North Face vs. The South Butt
In 2007, 16-year-old Jimmy Winkelmann created The South Butt to mock classmates wearing North Face clothes despite not climbing mountains. His slogan was “Never Stop Relaxing,” parodying The North Face’s “Never Stop Exploring.” The logo mirrored the outdoor clothing company’s icon but flipped upside down with a missing curve to suggest butt cheeks.
The North Face, despite Winkelmann’s business only generating around $5,000, sent a cease and desist letter. Winkelmann hired a lawyer, leading The North Face to file a trademark infringement suit. The increased publicity drove more traffic to The South Butt’s website. Attorney Albert Watkins noted, “Simply put, if it weren’t for the efforts of The North Face, The South Butt probably wouldn’t still exist.”
In 2010, The North Face and The South Butt settled, with The South Butt ceasing operations.
These cease and desist letters highlight the often bizarre and fiercely protected world of intellectual property. From medieval scrolls to puns and parody, companies go to striking lengths to defend their brands.
