Snoop Dogg vs. Edible Arrangements: The Legal Battle Over the ‘Swizzle’ Trademark

Snoop Dogg's ice cream venture, Dr. Bombay through Bosslady Foods, is reportedly pursuing a federal lawsuit against Edible Arrangements over a contentious term: “Swizzle.” The crux of the disagreement involves Dr. Bombay’s Tropical Sherbet Swizzle flavor, introduced in 2023. The name playfully incorporates Snoop's signature “-izzle” style alongside a nod to traditional cocktail stirrers. The Swizzle Dispute Edible Arrangements, well-known for its fruity arrangements, asserts it possesses exclusive rights to “Swizzle,” prompting the issuance of cease-and-desist notices to Bosslady soon after the sherbet debuted. In retaliation, Snoop's company has initiated litigation, contending that Edible’s trademark protections extend solely to chocolate-covered fruit, not frozen desserts, deeming the term too common for legal restriction. Bosslady's lawyers argue that “Swizzle” is commonly utilized within the culinary sector to denote decorative syrup presentations. They cite entrepreneur Shari Fitzpatrick as the term's originator, revealing she chose not to trademark it, thus placing it in the public domain. The ongoing lawsuit, located in Connecticut, seeks to invalidate six of Edible’s trademarks, prevent its use of “Swizzle” on ice cream, and seek financial recompense.