Totes & Trademarks: Inside the Ongoing Battle Between Trader Joe’s and Its Union
[1] Overview On September 8, 2025, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit revived a trademark infringement lawsuit brought by Trader Joe’s Company (“Trader Joe’s”) against Trader Joe’s United (“TJU”)—the grocery store chain’s employee union.[2] The decision is the latest installment in an ongoing battle over products sold by TJU which allegedly infringe Trader Joe’s federally registered trademarks.[3] The dispute raises important issues at the juncture of...
