Smucker sues Trader Joe's over Uncrustables packaging design

The J.M. Smucker Co. has sued Trader Joe's in federal court, alleging the grocery chain's new frozen crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches unlawfully copy the design and packaging of Smucker's Uncrustables. The complaint was filed Oct. 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and seeks an injunction to stop sales, destruction of the alleged infringing products and marketing materials, restitution and monetary damages.

Smucker's lawsuit contends that Trader Joe's product copies several trademarked features of Uncrustables, including the round pie like shape with undulating crimped edges, the use of a particular blue color on packaging and a graphic of a sandwich with a bite taken out of it. The company asserts those elements have been used on Uncrustables packaging for decades and are federally registered trademarks. The complaint brings claims of trademark infringement, trademark dilution, unfair competition, false designation of origin and deceptive trade practices, citing the Lanham Act.

In court filings, Smucker says the Uncrustables design has been in use since 1996 and that the bite graphic has appeared on boxes since 2000. The company also...