By L.M. Sixel

HOUSTON – A trademark dispute swirling between two portable-toilet vendors since last year has been settled.

Texas Outhouse of Houston, which trademarked its logo incorporating Texas and its lone star last year, had sued rival Texas Waste in May 2016, claiming the Alvin company’s use of similar iconic Texas images diluted Texas Outhouse’s brand, making it difficult for users to distinguish the difference.

“It would not have been enough if the Texas Outhouse logo were just the outline of Texas and the Lone Star,” Ellison noted in his order. “It became a distinctive trademark with the incorporation of ‘Texas Outhouse’ in the design,” Ellison wrote.

Houston lawyer Rodney Drinnon, who represents Texas Outhouse, said the dispute was resolved favorably for his client although he would not provide details.  Texas Waste will make changes to its logo, he said.

Texas Waste and its lawyer did not return calls for comment.

Article reposted from the Houston Chronicle. Read the original article here.