Mattel drops trademark lawsuit over Nicki Minaj Barbie-Que Honey Truffle chips

Mattel Nicki Minaj chips lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Mattel Inc. has agreed to drop a trademark infringement lawsuit against Rap Snacks.
• Why: The company had sued Rap Snacks over its Nicki Minaj-branded Barbie-Que Honey Truffle Potato Chips.
• Where: The dismissal was filed in a California federal court.

Mattel has agreed to drop a lawsuit against Rap Snacks Inc., after alleging the company infringed on Mattel’s Barbie trademark through the marketing of its Nicki Minaj-branded Barbie-Que Honey Truffle Potato Chips.

Mattel Inc. filed the notice of voluntary dismissal Sept. 13 in a California federal court, about a month after the company initially sued Rap Snacks. 

According to a source close to the matter, the dispute was “amicably resolved,” Law360 reports. 

As of Sept. 21, the product was not listed on the Rap Snacks website. 

Mattel Nicki Minaj Rap Snacks lawsuit alleged trademark infringement

The lawsuit had alleged that Rap Snacks infringed on Mattel’s trademark through its use of the Barbie and name and branding. 

In June, Rap Snacks announced it would be collaborating with rapper Nicki Minaj to launch a new potato chip flavor called Barbie-Que Honey Truffle Potato Chips. Minaj is known for her “Barbie” alter-ego, and calls her fan base “Barbz.” She was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Mattel alleged that Rap Snacks’ marketing campaign extensively used the Barbie trademark.

It posted ads on a New York City billboard, had product giveaways during a New Orleans music festival, announced the launch in People magazine and plastered the news across social media, the Mattel Nicki Minaj lawsuit stated. 

Mattel said it already sells food and snack products using the Barbie trademark, and therefore the marketing diluted its brand and created unfair competition. 

The toy giant alleged Rap Snacks’ chief executive officer, James Lindsay, even filed an intent-to-use trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to register the word “Barbie-Que” in connection with a wide variety of food products including chips, cookies, candies and other snacks.

Earlier this year, a federal judge in California preliminarily approved a $98 million settlement between Mattel, accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers and a class of investors who claimed the companies worked together to mislead them about Mattel’s income tax expenses. 

What do you think of the outcome in the Mattel Rap Snacks lawsuit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! 

Mattel Inc. is represented by Alicia M. Sharon, Meaghan H. Kent and Lee S. Brenner of Venable LLP.

The Mattel Rap Snacks lawsuit is Mattel Inc. v. Rap Snacks Inc., Case No. 2:22-cv-05702, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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