Toronto’s Sneaky Dee’s told to take down social media posts with Blue Jays logo

A Toronto bar and music venue says it had to take down social media posts promoting its specials and watch party for Game 7 of the American League Championship Series after receiving a warning letter from the Toronto Blue Jays about using the team’s logo.

Sneaky Dee’s manager, George Diamantouros, says his business received a letter from the team saying the promotional posts on Facebook and Instagram violated the Blue Jays’ trademark rights and should be deleted.

Diamantouros says Sneaky Dee’s immediately took down the posts, which also included images of Jays players, and posted a note on social media to warn other small businesses against using Blue Jays materials.

“To all our fellow family-owned restaurants and bars, though showing Jays game and bringing people together during this exciting time in our city is great, we’d like to advise everyone to NOT use the Blue Jays logo to avoid potential legal action,” Sneaky Dee’s wrote on Instagram.

The Blue Jays say in a statement they are grateful for the support of local businesses as the team returns to the World Series, but Jays marks, including logo and player images, can only be used for promotional purposes by its official partners.

The team says that it is standard practice across the sporting and advertising industries.

Sneaky Dee’s says it will continue to show Blue Jays’ games as they face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

“It’s easy to get caught up as small business owners and fans, but there are legalities and consequences to consider,” Sneaky Dee’s post continued. “SO are we going to continue showing the games at Sneaky Dee’s? HELL YEAH we are! Let’s go, Blue Jays. Let’s play ball! See you this Friday at 8 p.m.!”

Sneaky Dee’s, located at College and Bathurst, has been a Toronto institution since 1987.

With files from Lucas Casaletto of CityNews