Keggy the KegTM was created in 2003 by Dartmouth College humor magazine, The Jack-O-Lantern. The Jack’O periodically trots Keggy out to the amusement of all.
Said another way: The Jack-O-Lantern created Keggy the Keg. It has been using the words KEGGY THE KEG and various incarnations of the costumed mascot for about 17 years. Sounds a lot like trademark rights to me.
But the folks at Dirtymouth would like you to know that preventing them from using Keggy the Keg to sell their merchandise is a “hindrance to [their] expression as Dartmouth students.” Also that Dirtymouth’s use of Keggy the Keg is a “parody” and their “apparel and accessories” are being sold to “spread awareness of their political message.”[1]
Let’s take those claims one at a time:
- Selling merch to make money is NOT “expression.” It’s commerce and using someone else’s trademark in commerce is infringement.
- Parody and political commentary each has some pretty specific requirements. I don’t see where Dirtymouth is meeting any of them.
- How, exactly, is stealing someone else’s trademark rights for profit a “political message” and what exactly is that message? It’s OK to steal?
Dirtymouth has no original ideas that interest anybody so they use someone else’s but call it free expression, parody, and a political act so they can pretend it’s OK.
Even that isn’t original.
Shout out to Max F. for calling this to my attention.
Shout out to Kane5187 at English Wikipedia for taking the sweet picture and releasing it into the public domain.

[1] Taken from the description of the Keggy the Keg throw pillow. Here’s the full description:
“Where is Keggy? The answer is, Keggy is dead. Since 2003, an organization has claimed that they have the sole copyright claims on Keggy the Keg.
“We disagree.
“Keggy has taken on a life of its own as the mascot of Dartmouth College, it’s students, alumni, and the culture of the university. Preventing and isolating the use of Keggy is a hindrance to our expression as Dartmouth students. The Keggy as we know it is dead. Now, Dirtymouth presents to you our own parody of this absurd copyright claim: Keggy is Dead.Any associated Keggy is Dead apparel and accessories are to spread awareness of our political message.”