FUMING

Elon Musk Faces Clash With Mexico Over His ‘Teslaquila’

Mexican tequila producers’ body says Musk infringing on the spirit’s protected name.

Elon Musk has fallen foul of regulators, and once again the trouble stems from a tweet. This time, however, it is not the Securities and Exchange Commission that is disturbed, but Mexico’s multibillion-dollar tequila industry. On Oct. 12, Musk tweeted “Teslaquila coming soon” and shared a mock-up of a red and white label with the Tesla logo and a caption that stated “100 percent Puro de Agave.” Tesla filed an application to trademark “Teslaquila” as a “distilled agave liquor” and “distilled blue agave liquor.” However  Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council says that the “name ‘Teslaquila’ evokes the word Tequila... (and) Tequila is a protected word.” Tequila must be made in specific Mexican states, among other requirements. The council said Musk’s proposed “Teslaquila” “would have to associate itself with an authorized tequila producer, comply with certain standards and request authorization from Mexico’s Industrial Property Institute.”

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