Just two days after storeowner Wendy Jones opened her Montecito cupcakery, Sprinkled Pink Cupcake Couture, she received a legal letter from Sprinkles explaining that she had infringed upon their trademarked name. The letter of course demanded Wendy to change her store’s name.
But Sprinkled Pink isn’t the only cupcakery Sprinkles has gone after. Sprinkles sued North Hollywood’s Famous Cupcakes in August 2008 claiming that the store was stealing their trademark “modern dot” which Sprinkles puts on top of every cupcake to differentiate flavors. Famous Cupcakes used dots as decor on its packaging and in its store, but not on the actual cupcakes.
Sprinkle lawyers say they have sent dozens of legal letters to cupcakeries around the country warning them about any possible infringement on any part of the Sprinkles franchise. Sprinkles has filed three lawsuits so far.
Sprinkles, which opened in 2005, skyrocketed to fame when Oprah Winfrey mentioned the cupcakes on her show. Now that the corporate cupcake giant Sprinkle is facing competition from the mom and pop type cupcake shops the competition is getting fierce.
Wendy decided that she didn’t want to take on a lawsuit in the early stages of her stores opening. She has since changed the name of the cupcakery to Who Didly inspired by her Willy Wonka themed storefront.
Watch this video to learn more about the Sprinkles vs. Sprinkled Pink cupcake controversy.
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