Dr Chris Brown wins two-year fight against Vetalogica over dog treats trademark

Hunky TV star Chris Brown has come out as top dog after winning a near two-year legal battle against a competitor pet food brand.

Hunky TV vet Chris Brown has come out as top dog after a legal scrap over the use of the word ‘drool’.

The ‘I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!’ host launched a near two-year battle after another pet food brand, Vetalogica, tried to trademark their treats under the name, ‘Droolies’.

But the 44-year-old argued it was too similar to his brand, ‘Drool by Dr Chris Brown’, which sells treats, dog wash and ear de-gunker.

And in a win for the Bondi Vet, the Australian Trade Marks Office recently agreed.

The office found Vetalogica, which sells Aussie-made dog and cat food, was barking up the wrong tree in its use of the word ‘drool’ to sell snacks.

Even though their small-batch Droolies included the suffix ‘-ies’, and the famous vet’s goods were followed by the words ‘By Dr Chris Brown’, it found the use of the same word could lead to “striking similarities between the respective trade marks”.

Dr Chris Brown launched a near two-year battle after another pet food brand, Vetalogica, tried to trademark their treats under the name, ‘Droolies’. Picture: Supplied

And that could result in public confusion with customers wondering whether the two businesses were linked, documents show.

“Overall I consider that, given the reputation acquired by (Dr Brown’s) trade mark, a significant number of consumers would at the very least experience a reasonable doubt as to the existence of some sort of connection between (Drool) and (Droolies) if it were used on the pet food goods specified in the application,” the office found.

The number of ‘hits’ to Dr Brown’s website also swayed the office into finding he had “a very significant and well-established following of Australian consumers” before launching his own dog food.

In two submissions to the office, Dr Brown argued his Drool business had already acquired a reputation in Australia since its 2019 establishment, and because of that, registering Droolies would likely deceive or cause confusion.

Dr Chris Brown has won a legal scrap over the use of the word ‘drool’. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The showdown came after Vetalogica applied in February 2021 to the federal government’s IP Australia to trade mark its Droolies, which was accepted and registered five months later.

But Dr Brown’s Drool swooped in and opposed the registration soon after, leading to a lengthy battle that finally ended in late February this year.

The TV host – currently in Africa where he’s filming ‘I’m a Celebrity’ – said through his lawyers at Macpherson Kelley that he didn’t wish to comment on the case.

Vetalogica did not respond to inquiries, but is able to appeal the decision.

Dr Brown rose to prominence nationwide with his TV show Bondi Vet in 2009.