Trying to cut back on beef, but tired of fish and chicken? Try unicorn. According to a joke advertisement on the website ThinkGeek, unicorn is the "new white meat." But according to the National Pork Board, it had better not be. The Board's lawyers sent the nerdy site--also sellers of Tauntaun sleeping bags (real) and Tribbles 'n' Bits cereal (fake)--a 12-page-long, cease-and-desist letter last month telling the site to lay off "the other white meat," which is trademarked in the United States, Europe, and Canada. ThinkGeek thinks the two meats can't compare. Unlike pork, unicorn is an excellent source of sparkles. Also unlike pigs, unicorns aren't real--so ThinkGeek believes the slogan "Pate is passe. Unicorn -- the new white meat" constitutes fair use as a parody. As reported in The Washington Post, Board spokeswoman Ceci Snyder says their lawyers must protect any use of the phrase:
"Clearly there's some fun being had, and we can laugh, too," Snyder said. "But in the end [the lawyers are] just following the law."
From their site, it doesn't look like ThinkGeek is budging. If the Pork Board is successful, maybe the National Cattlemen's Beef Association might have a better sense of humor. "Unicorn: It's What's For Dinner" has a nice ring to it. Related content: Discoblog: Science (What Else?) Reveals the Secret of the Montauk Monster Discoblog: Pilots Attacked By Frickin’ Laser Beams Discoblog: The World’s Geekiest T-Shirt Has a Wi-Fi Detector
Image: flickr / Scorpiorules58 / Tanakawho
