Everyone loves an underdog story. Erin Brockovich vs. PG&E. Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral. Elle Woods vs. that snooty and dense ex-boyfriend of hers. Now another such saga is unfolding in real time as Dogue—a canine-fashion magazine run single-handedly by a Beverly Hills dog-mom—prepares to take on Vogue, via its parent company, Condé Nast.
It all started on December 5 at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, in Los Angeles, when Condé Nast filed a federal lawsuit against Dogue’s publisher, Tasty Work LLC, alleging trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition. The complaint claims that Dogue’s “deliberate” use of a title “nearly identical” to Vogue was “obviously” intended to mislead consumers about any affiliation between the publications. It goes on to say that Vogue has suffered damage to “its business reputation and goodwill” as a result of Dogue’s existence, and that, “unless restrained,” Dogue would cause “irreparable damage” to Condé Nast.
