Judge says Smucker’s lawsuit against Trader Joe’s over frozen sandwiches can proceed.

A federal judge has determined that J.M. Smucker can continue with a lawsuit against Trader Joe's over frozen sandwiches that Smucker alleges are too similar to its Uncrustables. The case was initiated last fall in federal court in Ohio, with Smucker accusing Trader Joe's of committing trademark infringement when it introduced frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a round shape and crimped edges, similar to Uncrustables.

Trader Joe's countered that its freeze-dried sandwiches are not round but "squircles," or square sandwiches with rounded edges, and that Smucker's current packaging is not sufficiently recognizable to meet federal trademark dilution claims. However, U.S. District Judge John Adams ruled in favor of Smucker, stating that the company had invested significantly in developing Uncrustables and protecting the brand over the past 20 years, and that customers have come to associate the design trademarks with Smucker.