Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Deena Cortese have been hit with a lawsuit over merchandise they’ve been selling online featuring their meatball moniker, made famous on Jersey Shore.
According to TMZ, New York sandwich shop The Meatball Shop has filed a lawsuit against Nicole and Deena, claiming the pint-sized pals’ meatball swag is a rip-off of their shop’s trademarks.
The lawsuit accuses the two of selling these items and ignoring the restaurant’s cease and desist letter.
The Meatball Shop also claims in the documents that Nicole and Deena’s merchandise is ruining their brand’s good name.
The Meatball Shop opened in 2010 and has since expanded, with four locations currently open in New York City.
Coincidentally, Nicole and Deena whipped up some meatballs with The Meatball Shop co-owners Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow back in 2017 as part of a photoshoot, Daily Mail reports.
The Meatball Shop is reportedly seeking money from the reality TV stars as well as an injunction blocking the ladies from rolling out any meatball gear in the future.
Nicole and Deena have not commented on the lawsuit; however, as of Wednesday, the Meatball Merch social media account was still promoting new holiday items that are currently available on the website.
(Photos: MTV; Instagram)
You can’t trademark a common noun. A restaurant named Meatball doesn’t own the rights to all meatballs of the world. What a silly lawsuit.
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#meatballsunite