The University of Kentucky Owns the Word ‘Kentucky?’

Gee, there's the word "Kentucky" on my driver's license. And don't they sell bottles of Kentucky Tavern at liquor stores? And isn't there a really famous race every year in Louisville called The Kentucky Derby?

Wonder what they're paying to use that word?

See, here's the deal:

There's a distillery in Whitesburg, KY that makes Kentucky Mist Moonshine AND, as many companies do, it has a line of t-shirts...that say--you guessed it--Kentucky Mist Moonshine.

But the University of Kentucky is having none of it and is threatening to sue KMM over the use of the word "Kentucky" on its shirts.

When Kentucky Mist Moonshine attempted to trademark its Kentucky Mist clothing line, red flags (or, maybe, blue flags) went up at the university and the distillery received a letter from one of UK's attorneys.

The letter said, and I quote, "It is our present position that Kentucky Mist Moonshine Inc.’s use of the mark KENTUCKY MIST MOONSHINE to identify articles of clothing is likely to cause deception, confusion and mistake as to Kentucky Mist Moonshine Inc.’s affiliation, connection or association with the university."

Take a look at this:

Okay, so UK has owned the word "Kentucky" since 1997. Who knew?

The FONTS are different. I don't get how ANYONE could confuse a Kentucky Mist Moonshine shirt for a University of Kentucky shirt. I mean, come on.

I suspect this isn't over.

Stay tuned.

But, seriously, what ABOUT the Kentucky Derby?