Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila is a rip off of Texas company's brand, lawsuit alleges

In a lawsuit, an Austin-based tequila company says Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila “simply and blatantly” rips off its branding. Tequila 512, known for its distinctive and simplistic type-face and yellow label, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in a California U.S. District Court, alleging trademark infringement, false designation of origin and unfair competition. The Austin-based company also says Jenner’s brand copied its logo and color scheme. “The Kardashian-Jenner family strikes again,” the lawsuit says. “This time Kendall Jenner has associated herself with a new tequila brand, 818 Tequila, that intentionally copies (Tequila 512). The similarities are so striking that this cannot be the result of a coincidence.”

Tequila 512, whose trademark was established in 2015, uses an "immediately recognizable 512 mark in black lettering inside a vertical yellow rectangle," according to the lawsuit. The company’s name pays homage to Austin’s area code. Tequila 818 was launched last year by K & Soda LLC with Jenner as the face of the company and part owner. Tequila 818, which pays homage to a California area code, made only “immaterial tweaks” in an effort to deceive customers into thinking the two products were related, according to the lawsuit. In a statement to KEYE-TV, an Austin television station, 818 Tequila dismissed the claims in the lawsuit. “818 does not believe there is any merit to these claims,” a representative said in a statement. “We cannot otherwise comment on the matter.” Nick Matzorkis, CEO and chairman of Tequila 512, urged Tequila 818 to “clearly distinguish themselves” in an interview with the TV station.