Anheuser-Busch, Inc. v. Balducci Publications Richard Balducci Kathleen Balducci
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Full Opinion
Anheuser-Busch, Inc., appeals from the judgment of the district court dismissing its federal and state trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition claims against Balducci Publications and its publishers, Richard and Kathleen Balducci, for the use of registered Anheuser-Busch trademarks in a fictitious advertisement for âMichelob Oily.â See 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114(1), 1125(a) .(1988); Mo.Rev.Stat. §§ 417.056, 417.061 (1986). We have carefully reviewed the record before us, and we reverse.
Anheuser-Busch operates a brewery in St. Louis. Its products include the Michelob family of beers: Michelob, Michelob Dry, *772 Michelob Light and Michelob Classic Dark. For use in its marketing of these products, Anheuser-Busch owns several federally-registered trademarks: (1) Michelob; (2) Michelob Dry; (3) A & Eagle Design; (4) Bottle and Label Configuration; (5) Bottle Configuration; (6) Vertical Stripe Design; (7) the phrase âONE TASTE AND YOUâLL DRINK IT DRY;â and (8) Vertical Stripe and A & Eagle Design. Of these, (1) and (3) are also registered Missouri trademarks.
Balducei Publications is a publishing business owned by Richard and Kathleen Balduc-ei, also defendants in this case. Balducei Publications has published Snicker, a humor magazine, since April 1987. The back cover of issue 5}&, published in April 1989, contains a mock advertisement for the fictitious product âMichelob Oily.â A reduced copy of the advertisement is attached as Appendix A. The advertisement states in bold type, âONE TASTE AND YOUâLL DRINK IT OILYâ immediately above âMICHELOB OILYÂŽ.â The accompanying graphics include a partially-obscured can of Michelob Dry pouring oil onto a fish, an oil-soaked rendition of the A & Eagle design (with the eagle exclaiming âYuck!â) below a Shell Oil symbol, and various âMichelob Oilyâ products bearing a striking resemblance to appellantsâ Michelob family. This resemblance was quite intentional, as evidenced by the admitted use of actual Anheuser-Busch âclip-artâ 1 in replicating several of the protected trademarks. In smaller text the ad opines, âAt the rate itâs being dumped into our oceans, lakes and rivers, youâll drink it oily sooner or later, anyway.â Finally, the following disclaimer is found in extremely small text running vertically along the right side of the page: âSnicker Magazine Editorial by Rich Balduc-ei. Art by Eugene Ruble. Thank goodness someone still cares about quality (of life).â A full-size reproduction of this part of the ad is contained in Appendix B.
Balducei continues to sell back issues of Snicker â including Issue Advertising for back issues of the magazine has included the words âMichelob Oilyâ and a blue ribbon design associated with Anheuser-Busch.
Mr. Balducei stated at trial that he used the parody to comment on: (1) the effects of environmental pollution, including a specific reference to the then-recent Shell oil spill in the Gasconade River â a source of Anheuser-Buschâs water supply; (2) Anheuser-Buschâs subsequent decision to temporarily close its St. Louis brewery; and (3) the proliferation of Anheuser-Busch beer brands and advertisements. The defendants concede they possessed no knowledge that any Anheuser-Busch product actually contained oil.
Anheuser-Busch, displeased with Balduc-ciâs extensive use of its trademarks and the possible implication that its products were tainted with oil, brought this suit in May 1989. It asserted five causes of action: (1) infringement of federally-registered trademarks, 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1); (2) federal unfair competition, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a); (3) state trademark infringement, Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.056; (4) common law unfair competition; and (5) state law trademark dilution, Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.061. It sought one dollar in nominal damages and injunctive relief.
Other than the Balducei ad itself, the primary evidence offered by Anheuser-Busch was a study designed by Jacob Jacoby, Ph. D., and conducted under the supervision of Leon B. Kaplan, Ph.D. This survey, conducted in St. Louis shopping malls, involved 301 beer drinkers or purchasers who claimed to periodically review magazines or newspapers. The surveyors showed the Balducei ad to 200 participants and a Michelob Dry ad to the remaining 101. Of those viewing the Balducei ad, many expressed an impression of Anheuser-Buschâs role in its creation. For example, fifty-eight percent felt the creators âdid have to get permission to use the Michelob name.â Fifty-six percent believed permission would be required for the various symbols and logos. Six percent of the classified 2 responses construed the Balducei ad to *773 be an actual Anheuser-Busch advertisement. Almost half (45%) found nothing about the parody which suggested it was an editorial, and seventy-five percent did not perceive it as satirical. Virtually none (3.5%) noticed the tiny disclaimer on the side of the ad. Fifty-five percent construed the parody as suggesting that Michelob beer is or was in some way contaminated with oil. As a result, twenty-two percent stated they were less likely to buy Michelob beer in the future.
After a bench trial, the district court ruled in favor of Balducci on each of the five theories. Although the court found that âDefendants clearly used Plaintiffs marks in their ad parody, they used some of those marks without alteration, and they did so without Plaintiffs permission,â it dismissed the trademark claims because âDefendantsâ use of [the] marks did not create a likelihood of confusion in the marketplace.â Anheuser-Busch, Inc. v. Balducci Publications, 814 F.Supp. 791, 793. In reaching this decision, the court expressed the need to give âspecial sensitivityâ to the First Amendment aspects of the case. Id. at 796. Accordingly, the court concluded that although âPlaintiffs statistical evidence [might] well be persuasive in the context of a classic trademark infringement ease,.... where the allegedly infringing use occurs in an editorial context,â more persuasive evidence of confusion is required. Id. at 797. The court similarly dismissed the state law dilution claim, stating that âbecause Defendantâs use of Plaintiffs marks occurred in an editorial context, there is no threat of tarnishment through association with shoddy or disharmonious products.â Id. at 799. Finally, the court rejected the unfair competition claims because the âparody was not in any way connected with the sale of a product and because Plaintiff has failed to establish a likelihood of confusion in the marketplace.â Id. at 798.
On appeal, Anheuser-Busch contends the district court gave inordinate weight to Bal-ducciâs First Amendment claims and erred in finding no likelihood of confusion. Balducci contends the court correctly found no likelihood of confusion and, furthermore, argues the ad parody is absolutely protected by the First Amendment.
I.
This case involves the tension between the protection afforded by the Lanham Act to trademark owners and the competing First Amendment rights of the parodist. Our analysis of the district courtâs decision encompasses two related, but distinct steps. We begin by considering whether the district court erred in finding no likelihood of confusion. Since a trademark infringement action requires a likelihood of confusion, this finding, if upheld, decides this case. If we conclude the court erred in finding no likelihood of confusion, we must consider Baldueciâs additional argument that the First Amendment protects it from liability.
Section 32(1) of the Lanham Act protects owners of registered trademarks from uses âlikely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive.â 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1). The determination of whether âlikelihood of confusionâ exists is a factual determination which we review under the clearly erroneous standard. Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co. v. Novak, 836 F.2d 397, 398 (8th Cir.1987); SquirtCo v. Seven-Up Co., 628 F.2d 1086, 1091 (8th Cir.1980). However, our review is not so limited when, as here, the district courtâs âconclusions are inextricably bound up in its view of the law.â Calvin Klein Cosmetics Corp. v. Lenox Labs., 815 F.2d 500, 504 (8th Cir.1987). Rather than first considering whether Balducciâs ad parody was likely to confuse the public and then considering the scope of First Amendment protection, the district court conflated the two. The court essentially skewed its likelihood of confusion analysis in an attempt to give âspecial sensitivityâ to the First Amendment, holding Anheuser Busch to a higher standard than required in a âclassic trademark infringement case.â Balducci, 814 F.Supp. at 796-97. Since we cannot separate the courtâs factual finding of confusion from its legal conclusions, we conduct a de novo review of the well-developed record before us. Calvin Klein, 815 F.2d at 504.
*774 Many courts have applied, we believe correctly, an expansive interpretation of likelihood of confusion, extending âprotection against use of [plaintiffs] mark on any product or service which would reasonably be thought by the buying public to come from the same source, or thought to be affiliated with, connected with, or sponsored by, the trademark owner.â McCarthy, Trademarks and Unfair Competition § 24.03, at 24-13 (3d ed. 1992); Novak, 836 F.2d at 398; Nike, Inc. v. âJust Did Itâ Enters., 6 F.3d 1225, 1228 (7th Cir.1993); Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Inc. v. Pussycat Cinema, Ltd., 604 F.2d 200, 204-05 (2d Cir.1979); Jordache Enters., Inc. v. Levi Strauss, 841 F.Supp. 506, 514-15 (S.D.N.Y.1994). This approach seems consistent with congressional intent, as evidenced by the express inclusion during the 1989 revision of the Lanham Act of protection against confusion as to âorigin, spon-' sorship, or approval.â 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a). This court enumerated several factors pertinent to the finding of likelihood of confusion in SquirtCo, 628 F.2d at 1091: (1) the strength of the trademark; (2) the similarity between the plaintiffs and defendantâs marks; (3) the competitive proximity of the partiesâ products; (4) the alleged infringerâs intent to confuse the public; (5) evidence of any actual confusion; and (6) the degree of care reasonably expected of the plaintiffs potential customers. These factors are not a distinct test, but represent the sort of considerations which a court should consider in determining whether likelihood of confusion exists. We briefly consider the application of these factors to this case.
Anheuser-Busch possessed several very strong 3 trademarks that Balducci displayed virtually unaltered in the ad parody. Thus, the first two SquirtCo factors weigh heavily in favor of Anheuser-Busch. The third factor, competitive proximity, is less one-sided. Balducci does not directly compete with Anheuser-Busch. Confusion, however, may exist in the absence of direct competition. SquirtCo, 628 F.2d at 1091. Moreover, Balducci published the parody on the back cover of a magazineâa location frequently devoted to real ads, even in Snicker. This location threatens to confuse consumers accustomed to seeing advertisements on the back cover of magazines.
Our analysis of Balducciâs intent relies, of necessity, on circumstantial evidence. According to Richard Balducci, he sought to comment on certain social conditions through parody. âAn intent to parody is not an intent to confuse.â Jordache Enters., Inc. v. Hogg Wyld, Ltd., 828 F.2d 1482, 1486 (10th Cir.1987). Other factors, however, suggest Balducci had, if not an intent to confuse, at least an indifference to the possibility that some consumers might be misled by the parody. For example, no significant steps were taken to remind readers that they were viewing a parody and not an advertisement sponsored or approved by Anheuser-Busch. Bal-ducci carefully designed the fictitious ad to appear as authentic as possible. Several of Anheuser-Buschâs marks were used with little or no alteration. The disclaimer is virtually undetectable. Balducci even included a ÂŽ symbol after the words Michelob Oily. These facts suggest that Balducci sought to do far more than just âconjure upâ an image of Anheuser-Busch in the minds of its readers. Cf. Walt Disney Productions v. Air Pirates, 581 F.2d 751, 758 (9th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 1132, 99 S.Ct. 1054, 59 L.Ed.2d 94 (1979) (in copyright context, âfair useâ doctrine does not entitle parodist to copy everything needed to create the âbest parody;â rather, the parodist may copy only that portion of the protected work necessary to âconjure up the originalâ). These factors limit the degree to which Balducciâs intent to parody weighs in favor of a finding of no likelihood of confusion.
Balducciâs desired message, or humor, presumably hinged on consumersâ ultimate realization that although this âadvertisementâ was based on the painstaking duplication of Anheuser-Buschâs marks, it was in fact a parody or editorial parody. We have significant doubt as to whether many consumers would develop this understanding of Balduc- *775 ciâs true purpose. There is a distinct possibility, accepted by the district court, âthat a superficial observer might believe that the ad parody was approved by Anheuser-Busch.â Balducci, 814 F.Supp. at 797. The back cover of magazines is frequently used for advertisements and cannot be expected to command the thoughtful deliberation of all or even most of the viewing public. The district court downplayed this fact, observing that â[o]nce again ... the First Amendment concerns at issue in this litigation require a closer examination of Plaintiffs claims.â Id. When objectively viewed, the fourth and sixth SquirtCo factors (i.e., intent and degree of care) may not fully support Anheuser-Busch, but they are consistent with a finding that the parody presented a significant likelihood of confusing consumers.
The survey evidence, whether considered as direct or indirect evidence of actual confusion, tilts the analysis in favor of Anheuser-Busch. Over half of those surveyed thought Balducci needed Anheuser-Buschâs approval to publish the ad. Many of these presumably felt that such approval had in fact been obtained. Six percent thought that the parody was an actual Anheuser-Busch advertisement. Other courts have accepted similar survey findings. See Novak, 886 F.2d at 400; Natâl Football League Props., Inc. v. New Jersey Giants, Inc., 637 F.Supp. 507, 517 (D.N.J.1986) (citing decisions relying on surveys showing 8.5% to 15% confusion); Schieffelin & Co. v. Jack Company of Boca, 850 F.Supp. 232, 247-48 (S.D.N.Y.1994). In Novak, for example, âapproximately ten percent of all the persons surveyed thought that Mutual âgoes alongâ with Novakâs product.â 836 F.2d at 400. The court found this persuasive despite the existence of âsome ambiguityâ in the survey question. Id. Thus, we are left with evidence, obtained by means of a valid consumer survey, that strongly indicates actual consumer confusion.
Our review of the record before the district court, including the Balducci ad and the survey evidence, 4 convinces us that the court erred in finding no likelihood of confusion. The court reached its finding only after it mistakenly weighted its analysis in favor of Balducci in an effort to satisfy the limits set by the First Amendment. We believe the better course would have been to analyze the likelihood of confusion first and then proceed to an analysis of the First Amendment issues.
Having determined that a likelihood of confusion exists, we must next consider Balducciâs argument that the First Amendment protects it from liability for its ad parody. Parody does implicate the First Amendmentâs protection of artistic expression. Cliffs Notes, Inc. v. Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub. Group, 886 F.2d 490, 493 (2d Cir.1989). Based on this, Balducci argues it has an absolute First-Amendment right to use plaintiffs trademarks in its parody. No such absolute right exists. See id. at 493-94 (âTrademark protection is not lost simply because the allegedly infringing use is in connection with a work of artistic expression.â) (quoting Silverman v. CBS Inc., 870 F.2d 40, 49 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 492 U.S. 907, 109 S.Ct. 3219, 106 L.Ed.2d 569 (1989)); Nike, 6 F.3d at 1228; Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, 604 F.2d at 206 (defendant liable for using cheerleader uniform in X-rated film); Pillsbury Co. v. Milky Way Productions, Inc., 215 U.S.P.Q. 124, 135 (N.D.Ga.1981) (defendant liable for dilution for publishing cartoon of âPoppinâ Freshâ and âPoppie Freshâ doughpersons engaging in sexual intercourse and fellatio); Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. v. Manns Theaters, 195 U.S.P.Q. 159, 162 (C.D.Cal.1976) (defendant liable for using TARZAN mark in X-rated film).
In arguing against the reasoning of these many cases, Balducci relies on this courtâs opinion in Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co. v. Novak, 836 F.2d 397 (8th Cir.1987), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 933, 109 S.Ct. 326, 102 L.Ed.2d 344 (1988). In Novak, a panel of this court upheld an injunction against No-vakâs continued sale of anti-war T-shirts, coffee mugs and other products containing *776 words such as âMutants of Omahaâ and bearing symbols with a likeness to plaintiffs Indian head logo. Id. at 398. In dicta, the court stated that the injunction âin no way infringes upon the constitutional protection the First Amendment would provide were Novak to present an editorial parody in a book, magazine, or film.â Id. at 402. This language does not support absolute protection for editorial parody, but merely reflects the fact that a parody contained in an obvious editorial context is less likely to confuse, and thus more deserving of protection than those displayed on a product. See Nike, 6 F.3d at 1228; Jordache Enters., Inc. v. Hogg Wyld, Ltd., 625 F.Supp. 48, 55 (D.N.M.1985), aff'd 828 F.2d 1482 (10th Cir.1987); 3 J.T. McCarthy § 31:38 at 31-213. A parody creating a likelihood of confusion may be subject to a trademark infringement action. Cliffs Notes, 886 F.2d at 494 (confusing parodies are âvulnerable under trademark lawâ); L.L. Bean, Inc. v. Drake Publishers, Inc., 811 F.2d 26, 32 n. 3 (1st Cir.) (confusing parodies âimplicate!] the legitimate commercial and consumer protection objectives of trademark lawâ), cert. denied and appeal dismissed 483 U.S. 1013, 107 S.Ct. 3254, 97 L.Ed.2d 753 (1987).
There is no simple, mechanical rule by which courts can determine when a potentially confusing parody falls within the First Amendmentâs protective reach. Thus, âin deciding the reach of the Lanham Act in any case where an expressive work is alleged to infringe a trademark, it is appropriate to weigh the public interest in free expression against the public interest in avoiding consumer confusion.â Cliffs Notes, 886 F.2d at 494. âThis approach takes into account the ultimate test in trademark law, namely, the likelihood of confusion as to the source of the goods in question.â Id. at 495 (internal quotations omitted).
In applying this balancing test, we begin with the recognition that parody serves as a âhumorous form of social commentary and literary criticism that dates back as far as Greek antiquity.â Bean, 811 F.2d at 28. Balducci purports to comment on several matters, including environmental pollution and Anheuser-Buschâs brand proliferation. The First Amendmentâs protection of social commentary generally, and parody in particular, is certainly implicated in this case. âThe fact that parody can claim legitimacy for some appropriation does not, of course, tell either parodist or judge much about where to draw the line.â Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., â U.S. -, -, 114 S.Ct. 1164, 1172, 127 L.Ed.2d 500 (1994). âThe benefit to the one making the parody ... arises from the humorous association, not from public confusion as to the source of the marks.â Jordache Enters., 828 F.2d at 1486. Thus, we must weigh the public interest in protecting Balducciâs expression against the public interest in avoiding consumer confusion.
Applying this standard, we are convinced that the First Amendment places no bar to the application of the Lanham Act in this case. As we have discussed, Balducciâs ad parody was likely to confuse consumers as to its origin, sponsorship or approval. This confusion might have to be tolerated if even plausibly necessary to achieve the desired commentary â a question we need not decide. In this case, the confusion is wholly unnecessary to Balducciâs stated purpose. By using an obvious disclaimer, positioning the parody in a less-confusing location, altering the protected marks in a meaningful way, or doing some collection of the above, Baldueci could have conveyed its message with substantially less risk of consumer confusion. Other courts have upheld the use of obvious variations of protected marks. See, e.g., Cliffs Notes, 886 F.2d at 496 (âSpy Notesâ held not to infringe âCliffs Notesâ mark); Jordache Enters., 828 F.2d at 1485-88 (comparing âJordacheâ and âLardasheâ jeans). The First Amendment does not excuse Balducciâs failure to do so. As the Second Circuit observed: *777 Cliffs Notes, 886 F.2d at 494; see Nike, 6 F.3d at 1228. Balducciâs ad, developed through the nearly unaltered appropriation of Anheuser-Buschâs marks, conveys that it is the original, but the ad founders on its failure to convey that it is not the original. Thus, it is vulnerable under trademark law since the customer is likely to be confused, as the record before the district court demonstrated.
*776 A parody must convey two simultaneousâ and contradictory â messages: that it is the original, but also that it is not the original and is instead a parody. To the extent that it does only the former but not the latter, it is not only a poor parody but also vulnerable under trademark law, since the customer will be confused.
*777 We believe it is important to acknowledge the limits of our holding today. We do not hold that Baldueeiâs extensive borrowing of Anheuser-Buschâs trademarks amounts to a per se trademark violation. Unlike copyright and patent owners, trademark owners have no right in gross. See McCarthy § 24.03[4][d]; Jordache, 625 F.Supp. at 56 (trademark owner âdoes not own in gross the penumbral customer awareness of its name, nor the fallout from its advertisingâ). By taking steps to insure that viewers adequately understood this was an unauthorized editorial, Baldueci might have avoided or at least sharply limited any confusion, and thereby escaped from liability. Absent such measures, Balducciâs ad parody was likely to confuse consumers and fall subject to federal trademark law.
II.
Although our trademark infringement holding dictates our disposition of this case, we must discuss Anheuser-Buschâs dilution claim because the validity of this claim may affect the relief available to it. 5
Missouriâs anti-dilution statute provides that â[likelihood of injury to business reputation or dilution of the distinctive quality of a mark ... shall be a ground for injunctive relief.â Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.061. This statute provides greater protection than the Lanham Act by expressly permitting claims ânotwithstanding the absence of competition between the parties or the absence of confusion as to the source of goods or services.â Id. Dilution comes in two distinct forms. The most common form prohibits uses which, although not likely to confuse consumers as to source, tend to weaken the unique association of the mark with the trademark owner. See, e.g., Tiffany & Co. v. Boston Club, Inc., 231 F.Supp. 836, 844 (D.Mass.1964) (enjoining Boston restaurantâs use of New York jewelerâs âTiffanyâ mark). More applicable to this case, however, is the second form of dilutionâcommonly referred to as âtarnishment.â Courts have frequently enjoined the âtarnishmentâ of a mark through association with unsavory goods, persons or services. See, e.g., Chemical Corp. of America v. Anheuser-Busch, Inc., 306 F.2d 433, 436-38 (5th Cir.1962) (enjoining use of âWhere thereâs life ... thereâs bugs!â slogan), cert. denied, 372 U.S. 965, 83 S.Ct. 1089, 10 L.Ed.2d 129 (1963); Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. v. Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., 642 F.Supp. 1031, 1039 (N.D.Ga.1986) (tarnishment âoccurs when a defendant uses the same or similar marks in a way that creates an undesirable, unwholesome, or unsavory mental association with the plaintiffs markâ); . Pillsbury, 215 U.S.P.Q. at 135 (enjoining cartoon portrayal of trade characters engaged in sexual intercourse and fellatio published in adult magazine); American Express Co. v. Vibra Approved Laboratories Corp., 10 U.S.P.Q.2d 2006, 2013, 1989 WL 39679 (S.D.N.Y.1989) (enjoining defendantâs use of plaintiffs trademark in distribution of condom credit card); Coca-Cola Co. v. Gemini Rising, Inc., 346 F.Supp. 1183, 1190-91 (E.D.N.Y.1972) (enjoining âEnjoy Cocaineâ posters because customers might be âturned offâ by so-called âspoofâ).
In this case, the majority of those surveyed construed the ad parody as suggesting that Miehelob beer contains oil. This relationship obviously tarnishes the marksâ carefully-developed images. Moreover, the tar-nishment results from a negative, although vague, statement about the quality of the product represented by the trademark. The plain language of the Missouri anti-dilution statute reaches this situation.
*778 Balducci argues that the application of the anti-dilution statute to enjoin the ad parodyâs publication would violate the First Amendment. Balducci contends that the First Amendment prevents any construction of an anti-dilution statute that would enjoin perceived tarnishment in a non-commercial context. The only case we discovered which supports such a sweeping statement is L.L. Bean, Inc. v. Drake Publishers, Inc., 811 F.2d 26 (1st Cir.), cert. denied and appeal dismissed, 483 U.S. 1013, 107 S.Ct. 3254, 97 L.Ed.2d 753 (1987). In Bean, the First Circuit considered a parody of the plaintiffs mail-order catalog. The parody, contained in an adult erotic magazine, consisted of a two-page article entitled' âL.L. Beamâs Back-to-School-Sex-Catalog.â (Emphasis added.) The article portrayed nude models using fictitious products in sexually explicit manners and contained facsimiles of Beanâs trademarks. The court concluded that applying the Maine anti-dilution statute would be unconstitutional because the First Amendment protects the âuse of a trademark in a noncommercial setting such as an editorial or artistic context.â Id. at 33.
We reject Balducciâs First Amendment argument. We begin by observing that Bal-ducciâs analysis conflicts with the holding of several cases. See, e.g., Pillsbury, 215 U.S.P.Q. at 135; Coca-Cola Co., 346 F.Supp. at 1191-93. Moreover, the facts in Bean differ significantly from the facts in this appeal. First, the catalog parody made no derogatory comment about Beanâs productsâ quality. Balducciâs parody, as demonstrated by the survey, suggested that Anheuser-Busch products were contaminated with oil. This unsupported attack was not even remotely necessary to Balduceiâs goals of commenting on the Gasconade oil spill and water pollution generally. Nor does Balduceiâs asserted purpose of commenting on Anheuser-Buschâs brand proliferation give it carte blanche to attack Anheuser-Busch products. Second, and more importantly, the catalog parody was located inside a 100-page magazine. Bean, 811 F.2d at 32. Readers presumably discovered it only after perusing the magazine or reviewing the table of contents, which labelled the article as âhumorâ and âparody.â In contrast, Balducci placed its parody on the back cover with only a tiny disclosure. Thus, the casual viewer might fail to appreciate its editorial purpose. Even the Bean court felt it significant that âneither the [catalog parody] nor appellantâs trademark was featured on the front or back cover of the magazine.â Id. For these reasons, as well as those contained in our discussion of Balducciâs First Amendment arguments in the trademark context, we conclude the district court erred in dismissing Anheuser-Buschâs dilution claims.
III.
The final question presented in this case involves the proper remedy. Anheuser-Busch seeks one dollar in damages and an injunction against further infringement. The requested nominal damages seem proper given the survey evidence suggesting actual confusion. See Brunswick Corp. v. Spinit Reel Co., 832 F.2d 513, 525 (10th Cir.1987) (awarding damages based on survey evidence); PPX Enters., Inc. v. Audiofidelity Enters., Inc., 818 F.2d 266, 271 (2d Cir.1987) (same).
Injunctive relief is also appropriate and, under the Missouri anti-dilution statute, required. The injunction sought by Anheu-ser-Busch, however, is quite broad. It would permanently enjoin Balducci from publishing any âfalse descriptionâ of Anheu-ser-Busch products or âpublishing [the protected marks in] ... any documents or material.â This relief seems to encompass a great number of uses which might amount to no infringement at all. Courts should tread cautiously when considering injunctive relief against future publication. The proponent of prior restraint â âcarries a heavy burden of showing justification for the imposition of such a restraint.â â New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713, 714, 91 S.Ct. 2140, 2141, 29 L.Ed.2d 822 (1971) (quoting Bantam Books, Inc. v. Sullivan, 372 U.S. 58, 70, 83 S.Ct. 631, 639, 9 L.Ed.2d 584 (1963)). The parties have not developed a satisfactory record' or fully briefed this issue. Thus, we decline to delineate the precise limits which the First Amendment might place on the *779 scope of the injunctive relief available to Anheuser-Busch.
We reverse the district courtâs dismissal of Anheuser-Buschâs trademark infringement (15 U.S.C. § 1114(1)) and dilution (Mo.Rev. Stat. § 417.061) claims and instruct the district court to enter judgment for Anheuser-Busch on these claims and award appropriate relief.
*780 APPENDIX A
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*781 APPENDIX B
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