• Chicago Tribune, Monday, November 21, 2011 10:03 AM

Chicago candy maker Tootsie Roll Industries is suing a small footwear company selling the Footzyrolls shoe brand. According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Illinois, Rollashoe, which makes rollable ballet slippers called Footzyrolls, is infringing on the brand name of Chicago-based Tootsie Roll. Tootsie Roll, which made $521 million in sales last year, alleged that the $2 million Footzyrolls brand will confuse and "deceive" consumers into thinking that the shoes are associated with Tootsie Roll's portfolio of products.

Calling Rollashoe's actions "willful, malicious and fraudulent," Tootsie Roll also claims that Footzyrolls, which launched in 2009, dilute, or tarnish, the value of the Tootsie Roll brand.

The candymaker further alleges that the Footzyrolls name constitutes "copying" and "counterfeiting" of the Tootsie Roll trademark.

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