Tag: LegalStrategy
A spicy trade dress dispute – TABASCO® meets Vodka
What do vodka and pepper sauce have in common? Surprisingly, their packaging. In January 2026, the McIlhenny Company filed a lawsuit in a Texas federal court. It targeted Stoli Group (USA) LLC. The claim alleges that Stoli’s new “Halapeño Pepper” vodka infringes on TABASCO® pepper sauce trade dress. This marks the start of a spicy trade dress dispute.
VAT enforcement risks demand proactive legal oversight
Value-Added Tax (VAT) remains one of the most powerful revenue instruments available to the South African fiscus. In practical terms, it continues to rival personal income tax as a primary contributor to government revenue. It also remains indispensable to the South African Revenue Service (SARS)’s collection mandate. This reality matters.
