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Ted's Cigars' owner Ted Jackson files counter suit against Maker's Mark

Louisville Courier Journal
Ted Jackson owns Ted's Cigars in Louisville and has had a working relationship with Maker’s Mark for over 20 years. Jackson’s dealings with the distillery have involved Maker’s Mark chocolates, coffees and even owning a Maker’s Mark store in Oxmoor Mall, but his biggest dealings have been cigars. Jackson transitioned away from marketing the “Maker’s Mark Cigar” after an agreement ended in 2016, and it became “Ted’s Bourbon Cigar.” Now, Maker’s is suing Jackson saying he is profiting off of their branding and using their trademarks. Jackson has filed his own countersuit. “I’m personally angry,” Jackson said. “They’ve picked the wrong guy to sue and the wrong guy to cast in a bad light.” Jan. 10, 2019
Ted Jackson owns Ted's Cigars in Louisville and has had a working relationship with Maker’s Mark for over 20 years. Jackson’s dealings with the distillery have involved Maker’s Mark chocolates, coffees and even owning a Maker’s Mark store in Oxmoor Mall, but his biggest dealings have been cigars. Jackson transitioned away from marketing the “Maker’s Mark Cigar” after an agreement ended in 2016, and it became “Ted’s Bourbon Cigar.” Now, Maker’s is suing Jackson saying he is profiting off of their branding and using their trademarks. Jackson has filed his own countersuit. “I’m personally angry,” Jackson said. “They’ve picked the wrong guy to sue and the wrong guy to cast in a bad light.” Jan. 10, 2019
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal
A marketing ad created by Ted Jackson’s company Ted's Cigars for their “Bourbon Cigar.” The Louisville company set about rebranding to differentiate from their previous Maker’s Mark cigar once an agreement ended in 2016. Maker’s Mark filed a suit Tuesday saying Jackson is infringing on their trademark, while Jackson is countersuing over issues related to dipped wax use rights. Jan. 10, 2019
A marketing ad created by Ted Jackson’s company Ted's Cigars for their “Bourbon Cigar.” The Louisville company set about rebranding to differentiate from their previous Maker’s Mark cigar once an agreement ended in 2016. Maker’s Mark filed a suit Tuesday saying Jackson is infringing on their trademark, while Jackson is countersuing over issues related to dipped wax use rights. Jan. 10, 2019
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal
A case holds various types of flavored cigars made by Ted's Cigars in Louisville. Flavors range from rum to beer hops, from bourbon to agave. Jan. 10, 2019
A case holds various types of flavored cigars made by Ted's Cigars in Louisville. Flavors range from rum to beer hops, from bourbon to agave. Jan. 10, 2019
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal
Ted’s Cigars also makes the Maker’s Mark coffee that the distillery company sells. Jackson says that Maker’s Mark spends over $50,000 on the coffee and sell Jackson the red wax SIV watermark labels to use on the products. “If Maker’s Mark is hosting cigar events with me, if they’re buying the cigar for promotional services, they’re selling us bourbon, where is the confusion coming from?” Jackson said. “Maker’s Mark is causing the confusion in the marketplace.” Jan. 10, 2019
Ted’s Cigars also makes the Maker’s Mark coffee that the distillery company sells. Jackson says that Maker’s Mark spends over $50,000 on the coffee and sell Jackson the red wax SIV watermark labels to use on the products. “If Maker’s Mark is hosting cigar events with me, if they’re buying the cigar for promotional services, they’re selling us bourbon, where is the confusion coming from?” Jackson said. “Maker’s Mark is causing the confusion in the marketplace.” Jan. 10, 2019
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal
Ted’s Cigars also makes the Maker’s Mark coffee that the distillery company sells. Jackson says that Maker’s Mark spends over $50,000 on the coffee and sell Jackson the red wax SIV watermark labels to use on the products. “If Maker’s Mark is hosting cigar events with me, if they’re buying the cigar for promotional services, they’re selling us bourbon, where is the confusion coming from?” Jackson said. “Maker’s Mark is causing the confusion in the marketplace.” Jan. 10, 2019
Ted’s Cigars also makes the Maker’s Mark coffee that the distillery company sells. Jackson says that Maker’s Mark spends over $50,000 on the coffee and sell Jackson the red wax SIV watermark labels to use on the products. “If Maker’s Mark is hosting cigar events with me, if they’re buying the cigar for promotional services, they’re selling us bourbon, where is the confusion coming from?” Jackson said. “Maker’s Mark is causing the confusion in the marketplace.” Jan. 10, 2019
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal
Ted Jackson owns Ted's Cigars in Louisville and has had a working relationship with Maker’s Mark for over 20 years. Jackson’s dealings with the distillery have involved Maker’s Mark chocolates, coffees and even owning a Maker’s Mark store in Oxmoor Mall, but his biggest dealings have been cigars. Jackson transitioned away from marketing the “Maker’s Mark Cigar” after an agreement ended in 2016, and it became “Ted’s Bourbon Cigar.” Now, Maker’s is suing Jackson saying he is profiting off of their branding and using their trademarks. Jackson has filed his own countersuit. “I’m personally angry,” Jackson said. “They’ve picked the wrong guy to sue and the wrong guy to cast in a bad light.” Jan. 10, 2019
Ted Jackson owns Ted's Cigars in Louisville and has had a working relationship with Maker’s Mark for over 20 years. Jackson’s dealings with the distillery have involved Maker’s Mark chocolates, coffees and even owning a Maker’s Mark store in Oxmoor Mall, but his biggest dealings have been cigars. Jackson transitioned away from marketing the “Maker’s Mark Cigar” after an agreement ended in 2016, and it became “Ted’s Bourbon Cigar.” Now, Maker’s is suing Jackson saying he is profiting off of their branding and using their trademarks. Jackson has filed his own countersuit. “I’m personally angry,” Jackson said. “They’ve picked the wrong guy to sue and the wrong guy to cast in a bad light.” Jan. 10, 2019
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal
Ted Jackson owns Ted's Cigars, a small Louisville company that specializes in cigar sales and has had a working relationship with Maker’s Mark for over 20 years. “It started at a Derby party at Bill Samuels' house,” Jackson said of a past president of the company. Jackson states that Samuels wanted a Maker’s Mark cigar made and soon Jackson and his team created a proprietary flavoring method using the bourbon. The relationship has included chocolates and even Jackson running a Maker’s Mark store in Oxmoor Mall. Jan. 10, 2019
Ted Jackson owns Ted's Cigars, a small Louisville company that specializes in cigar sales and has had a working relationship with Maker’s Mark for over 20 years. “It started at a Derby party at Bill Samuels' house,” Jackson said of a past president of the company. Jackson states that Samuels wanted a Maker’s Mark cigar made and soon Jackson and his team created a proprietary flavoring method using the bourbon. The relationship has included chocolates and even Jackson running a Maker’s Mark store in Oxmoor Mall. Jan. 10, 2019
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal
Ted Jackson owns Ted's Cigars, a small Louisville company that specializes in cigar sales and has had a working relationship with Maker’s Mark for over 20 years. “It started at a Derby party at Bill Samuels' house,” Jackson said of a past president of the company. Jackson states that Samuels' wanted a Maker’s Mark cigar made and soon Jackson and his team created a proprietary flavoring method using the bourbon. The relationship has included chocolates and even Jackson running a Maker’s Mark store in Oxmoor Mall. Jan. 10, 2019
Ted Jackson owns Ted's Cigars, a small Louisville company that specializes in cigar sales and has had a working relationship with Maker’s Mark for over 20 years. “It started at a Derby party at Bill Samuels' house,” Jackson said of a past president of the company. Jackson states that Samuels' wanted a Maker’s Mark cigar made and soon Jackson and his team created a proprietary flavoring method using the bourbon. The relationship has included chocolates and even Jackson running a Maker’s Mark store in Oxmoor Mall. Jan. 10, 2019
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal
Ted’s Cigars also makes the Maker’s Mark coffee that the distillery company sells. Jackson says that Maker’s Mark spends over $50,000 on the coffee and sells Jackson the red wax SIV watermark labels to use on the products. “If Maker’s Mark is hosting cigar events with me, if they’re buying the cigar for promotional services, they’re selling us bourbon, where is the confusion coming from?” Jackson said. “Maker’s Mark is causing the confusion in the marketplace.” Jan. 10, 2019
Ted’s Cigars also makes the Maker’s Mark coffee that the distillery company sells. Jackson says that Maker’s Mark spends over $50,000 on the coffee and sells Jackson the red wax SIV watermark labels to use on the products. “If Maker’s Mark is hosting cigar events with me, if they’re buying the cigar for promotional services, they’re selling us bourbon, where is the confusion coming from?” Jackson said. “Maker’s Mark is causing the confusion in the marketplace.” Jan. 10, 2019
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal
Outside at Ted Jackson’s Louisville based cigar business, “Ted's Cigars.” Jan. 10, 2018
Outside at Ted Jackson’s Louisville based cigar business, “Ted's Cigars.” Jan. 10, 2018
Alton Strupp/Courier Journal