That picture pretty much sums up the gist of this complaint that Sazerac has filed against Caribbean Distillers (makers of Sonavavitch vodka (you’re reading that right)) for a product they are be planning on making… that’s right, it doesn’t exist yet. But that’s not stopping the good folks who make Fireball from protecting their market […]
Tag: trademark dispute
Court Issues Instructive Trademark Decision as Brooklyn Brewery Wins Injunction Against Black Ops Brewing Over “Black Ops” Trademark Row
Not every beverage you make will become a brand in itself. Often, nothing you make will become more famous than your company name. But for some reason stouts aged in bourbon barrels are notorious for having their names get the shorthand treatment and become famous – Bourbon County, Dark Lord, Dragon’s Milk, even to initials […]
DuClaw(s) out at Left Hand Brewery in craft beer trademark dispute over Sawtooth and Black Jack beer names
Left Hand Brewing may have just made the list of the U.S. top 50 craft brewers but DuClaw Brewing Company isn’t writing to congratulate them. In this lawsuit filed last Monday, DuClaw, which makes a Belgian white it calls Sawtooth and stout called Black Jack Stout wants a Maryland Federal Court to keep Left Hand […]
Anchor Steam(ed) up in dispute over use of “Steam” trademark for craft beer by City Steam Brewery
In a lawsuit filed two weeks ago, Anchor Steam Brewery is seeking to enforce its rights to its “Steam” trademark for beer against City Steam Brewery in Connecticut. The case between these two brewers had been milling around the Trademark Trials and Appeals Board but now that Anchor filed suit, they’re seeking to stay that […]
You Need an Approved COLA Before You Have a Valid Trademark?
I’d say it goes without saying, but the recent expansion of wineries, breweries and distilleries and the coinciding increase in trademark disputes is evincing a contrary trend, so I guess I’ll say it, you need label approval (or recognized exemption) to have lawful sales that can count as your first use in commerce. And a […]
A Real Lesson In The Result of a Battle Between Unregistered Trademarks – Having to Disgorge Your Profits
The merits of a spiced autumn harvest wine weren’t up for debate in a recent Wisconsin case, C&N Corp. d/b/a Door County Winery v. Illinois River Winery. Just the issue of which one of these Illinois/Wisconsin wineries had the better claim to sell theirs by the name Hallowine and whether priority rights in an unregistered […]
Magic Hat v. West Sixth – A Lesson in Using Social Media to Supplant the Law?
The team over at Beerpulse is doing a great job covering the dispute that’s turned into a public-press-release-tennis-match between Magic Hat Brewing and Lexington, Kentucky’s West Sixth Brewing. For those of you looking for a full copy of the complaint that Magic Hat filed, along with all the exhibits, here it is. Given the standards […]
