National Pork Producers Council President John Weber and CEO Neil Dierks met with USDA legal counsel last week to discuss the “Other White Meat” trademark lawsuit brought by HSUS. Weber says they reiterated that the agency needs to defend the sale of trademark assets being questioned in court. However, he’s not sure if USDA can provide a good defense of the pork industry’s case and as a result they may be considering a possible out of court settlement….something they want to head off.
The lawsuit HSUS initially brought against NPPC and the National Pork Board over the sale of the “Other White Meat” trademark was thrown out. However, an appeals court last fall allowed the litigation to proceed. Weber says even though USDA has a very strong legal position it isn’t defending a contract it originally approved.
Weber says part of the reason they’re pushing USDA is because of the principle of the case.
Weber says the USDA legal counsel was very hesitant to talk about the legal status of the out-of-court negotiations.
