MARKETING

Spam Challenge Rejected: U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood ruled that Hormel Foods Corp. is being a bit piggy about its Spam trademark and said that Jim Henson Productions can go ahead with promotional plans for the wild boar Muppet character, Spa’am. Wood said Spa’am does not infringe on the Spam trademark and that the evil pig puppet can make his long-awaited appearance in the upcoming “Muppet Treasure Island” movie to be released in February. Hormel had sued Henson alleging that the depiction of the boar would discourage people from buying the luncheon meat.