Barbie suing Rap Snacks

A Nicki Minaj-inspired brand of potato chips has hit a legal snag.

Rap Snacks is being sued by Barbie doll manufacturer Mattel over its newly launched “Barbie-Que Honey Truffle” chips.

Mattel Inc. filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court last week, alleging the popular snack brand infringed on its iconic Barbie-stylized trademark with the release of the product attached to the hip-hop superstar’s likeness.

“On information and belief, the association is so evident that upon seeing the packaging, representatives for Defendant’s celebrity partner queried whether Rap Snacks had obtained permission from Mattel,” the complaint reads, according to official legal documents obtained by Reuters. “Indeed, Rap Snacks never requested or received any such permission” and “proceeded to launch its product line anyway using the packaging.”

The El Segundo, California-headquartered toy-maker argues the snack creates confusion among consumers, as it falsely associates the product with the Barbie brand, which also reportedly has its own line of snack foods under the “Barbie” name as part of “a broad range of commercial and consumer products.”

After Rap Snacks “made the deliberate and calculated choice” to hijack the trademark, it allegedly refused to stop using the name. Mattel is seeking an order to block the Black-owned company from using the Barbie name and is looking to receive unspecified damages as well as profits from the chip sales.