When it comes to protecting intellectual property, some companies go beyond the ordinary. Below you’ll find 10 interesting cease orders that range from downright hilarious to surprisingly serious, each illustrating how fiercely brands defend their assets.
10 Interesting Cease Cases Overview
10 Bud Light Sent Modist Brewing a Medieval C&D
On December 1, 2017, Modist Brewing Co. rolled out its Dilly Dilly Mosaic Double IPA. Barely two hours after the launch, Bud Light—still riding the wave of its medieval‑themed “dilly dilly” campaign—delivered a cease and desist in an equally medieval fashion. A town crier, dressed in period garb, marched into Modist’s office and read the demand from a parchment scroll.
The scroll made clear that while Bud Light was okay with the current batch of beer staying on shelves, the brewery must abandon the name moving forward. It warned that any further use would be met with “additional scrolls, then a formal warning, and finally a private tour of the pit of misery.”
The whole spectacle went viral, and when journalists asked Modist whether the stunt was staged, the brewers replied, “Nope. Not even for a dillisecond.”
9 The Lord of the Bins
When the pandemic knocked Dan Walker and Nick Lockwood out of their jobs, the duo launched The Lord of the Bins, a waste‑removal startup that riffed on J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic title. They even mimicked the film‑series typeface and adopted the tagline “One ring to remove it all.”
Not long after, Middle Earth Enterprises—owner of the film and merchandising rights—served them a cease and desist, demanding a name and tagline change. The company argued that the parody could dilute the brand’s value.
Lockwood labeled the move “bully‑boy tactics,” while Walker admitted, “We can’t afford a legal battle; we just want to make people smile and earn a living.”
8 T‑Mobile Is Protective of Pink
T‑Mobile guards the exact shade of magenta that crowns its logo—Pantone’s Rhodamine Red U—with the vigor of a knight defending a banner. Former CEO John Legere famously wore the hue on everything from shirts to shoes, reinforcing the brand’s visual identity.
In 2014, the carrier sued AT&T’s Aio Wireless for using a plum‑ish tone on its promotional material. A federal judge agreed, stating that consumers could mistakenly think Aio was linked to T‑Mobile because of the color similarity.
Beyond direct rivals, T‑Mobile has also sent cease notices to an IT firm, a smartwatch maker, and an insurance provider, underscoring its determination to keep that specific magenta to itself. Other brands have trademarked colors too—think Tiffany blue, Barbie pink, and UPS brown.
7 A Napoleon Dynamite Actor Sent a C&D to His Twin Brother
Efren Ramirez, forever remembered as Pedro in the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite, found his personal life tangled in a legal tangle. His identical twin, Carlos, began attending events in Efren’s stead whenever the actor was unavailable.
After Carlos confessed to a 2008 TMZ interview that he’d impersonated his brother to win over a girl, Efren responded with a cease and desist threatening a $10 million lawsuit if the impersonation continued. Carlos promptly ceased the behavior, hoping to mend the fractured sibling bond.
6 Netflix Shut Down a Stranger Things Bar
In the summer of 2017, brothers Danny and Doug Marks opened The Upside Down, a pop‑up bar in Chicago’s Logan Square celebrating the hit series Stranger Things. The venue offered themed drinks like Eleven’s Eggos‑flavored cocktails and featured the show’s iconic Christmas‑light alphabet wall.
Shortly after opening, Netflix sent a tongue‑in‑cheek cease and desist, peppered with references to the series: “Unless I’m living in the Upside Down, I don’t think we did a deal with you for this pop‑up.” The bar was permitted to finish its original six‑week run but had to close thereafter.
5 In‑N‑Out Sent a Punny C&D to Seven Stills Brewery
July 2018 saw San Francisco’s Seven Stills Brewery debut a “Neopolitan milkshake stout” inspired by In‑N‑Out. Branded In‑N‑Stout, the can borrowed the fast‑food chain’s red, white, and yellow palette and even mimicked its palm‑tree logo.
The brewery anticipated a cease notice, but the actual letter was laced with puns. In‑N‑Out wrote that “the use of our marks by third parties ales us,” and promised to “distill our rights” rather than “barrel through this.”
Following the correspondence, Seven Stills rebranded the stout, altering both name and packaging to comply with the demand.
4 Carl Sagan Sued Apple
Apple, notorious for policing the word “pod” and any apple‑shaped logos, faced a reversal in the early 1990s when its Power Mac 7100 carried the internal codename “Carl Sagan.” The name was chosen to evoke the astronomer’s famed “billions and billions” catchphrase, hinting at massive sales ambitions.
Sagan objected, fearing the codename implied his endorsement. After he sent a cease and desist, Apple swapped the codename to “BHA” (Butt‑Head Astronomer), which only inflamed the situation. Sagan then sued for libel, and when that failed, he pursued a separate suit over the unauthorized use of his name.
The dispute settled out of court, and the final codename became “LAW” (Lawyers Are Wimps), concluding a bizarre chapter in tech‑law history.
3 George Lucas Sent a C&D to Queen
During Queen’s late‑70s/early‑80s tours, frontman Freddie Mercury would be hoisted aloft on the shoulders of a muscular guard, sometimes dressed as Superman or Santa. Security chief Walt Versen suggested a Darth Vader costume for added drama, capitalizing on the Star Wars craze.
The idea seemed to work—Vader’s presence added a “unique experience” for the crowd—but the plan was abruptly canceled. Versen later discovered that George Lucas, displeased with his iconic villain being used for a rock‑show, had dispatched a cease and desist.
Lucas’s objection halted the stunt, leaving fans to wonder what might have been had the galaxy‑far‑far‑away character stayed in the spotlight.
2 Taco John’s Didn’t Want Anyone Else Using the Phrase “Taco Tuesday”
The term “Taco Tuesday” has become a staple promotion across countless eateries. Yet Taco John’s, a Mid‑western chain, claimed exclusive rights, trademarking the phrase and sending cease notices to any competitor that used it.
On its website, Taco John’s boasted, “Ever hear of Taco Tuesday®? We started it! We even trademarked it.” Historical research, however, shows the phrase dates back to at least 1973, with specials on Tuesdays appearing as early as 1933.
In 2023, Taco Bell petitioned the USPTO to cancel the trademark, arguing the phrase should be public domain. Taco John’s eventually relented, with CEO Jim Creel noting that “paying millions of dollars to lawyers to defend our mark just doesn’t feel right.”
1 The North Face vs. The South Butt
In 2007, sixteen‑year‑old Jimmy Winkelmann launched The South Butt, a tongue‑in‑cheek apparel line parodying The North Face. The brand’s slogan, “Never Stop Relaxing,” spoofed the original’s “Never Stop Exploring,” and the logo flipped the iconic three‑arch mountain into a stylized butt silhouette.
The North Face, despite the modest $5,000 revenue, issued a cease and desist. Winkelmann fought back, prompting a trademark infringement lawsuit that inadvertently drove massive traffic to The South Butt’s site. “If it weren’t for The North Face’s actions, The South Butt probably wouldn’t exist,” his attorney noted.
By 2010, both parties reached a settlement—terms undisclosed—while The South Butt ceased operations. The saga remains a classic example of how parody can clash with corporate branding.