VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Federal Government agents raided a Volusia County T-shirt company because of a fight over a logo, officials told WFTV Thursday.
The makers of "Monster" energy drink claim the company "Joe Cool" stole their logo and printed it on shirts that were sold all over Daytona Beach during bike week.
Stores told WFTV it's a huge seller. The people who make the Monster drink weren't as excited about it. Joe Cool, a t-shirt business that supplies shops all over Daytona Beach, was served with a federal restraining order for shirts with an image exactly like the Monster energy drink.
The U.S. Marshal's Office said usually in these cases they will seize printers, computers, and shirts made illegally.
A quick look around Daytona Beach revealed just how many shirts the business has printed up.
One business had full shelves in just about every color. WFTV noticed a "TM," for trademark, and when WFTV checked state records, found that Joe Cool was awarded three Florida trademarks for the logo last year though the Federal Trademark holds more clout.
The logo Joe Cool is printing looks at first glance almost exactly like a Monster energy can. When you look a little closer you find slight tweaks. Monster made lines at the top going to the left. Joe Cool, made one goes to the right and they split the bottom of the line down the middle
The business was still open when WFTV visited, but didn't want to talk about the logo they claim to own the rights to.
"We just want to talk about the shirts," said WFTV reporter Jason Allen.
"We don't want to talk about it though, contact our lawyers," said a Joe Cool representative.
Lawyers on both sides didn't return WFTV's calls for comment. Store owners told WFTV Joe Cool had hiked prices 30-percent for the shirts since getting the state trademark.