Seems Heidi got her braids in a bunch. ConAgra
Sven's on line 2
And he's got something to say about appropriating national symbols for commercial purposes.
It's just natural to associate the mountain range with the Swiss. Although their army's got some really cool knives and we'd all love government bureaucracy to run like one of their watches, I'm not sure how you'd otherwise depict a country whose main claim to fame seems to be international neutrality and numbered bank accounts.
But having seen the two images, I'm not sure there's much chance for confusion.
A graven image
No one's arguing it's not important for companies to protect their stock in trade. Brands and trademarks represent not only the good feelings consumers derive from products and services, but also a sizeable investment on the part of the company.
Who can say Coca-Cola
And Gucci made a strong case that Guess?
More holes than Swiss cheese
It's just that businesses need to have a thicker skin. Companies can go too far taking excessive umbrage at perceived slights.
Whatever you might think about the fashion statement that Crocs
Hasbro
Interestingly, Cisco
Wide of the mark
ConAgra spends between $2.7 million and $4.5 million yearly on marketing for Swiss Miss, and it records the value of its own trademarks at some $835 million. That figure also includes some powerful industry brands such as Hunt's, Hebrew National, and Chef Boyardee.
As important as this trademark fight might seem to ConAgra, it seems this dispute is off the mark.