Sutter Home won twice in its effort to block El Bandido Yankee’s trademarks. Then the Ninth Circuit reversed, explaining why the whole mark matters and why evidence of marketplace coexistence deserved consideration. The decision offers beverage brands practical lessons about resisting expansive trademark claims and building the evidence needed to defend a name.
Maine required Tito’s to use its control-state warehouse system, then treated the inventory as a tax connection. The decision gives alcohol suppliers a reason to review bailment terms, retained title, and the tax consequences of mandatory distribution arrangements.
A 2020 Minnesota ruling examines local ingredient requirements for farm wineries under the dormant Commerce Clause, with links to the opinion and briefs.
A damaged wine shipment to Vietnam illustrates pleading issues under COGSA and why importers should document routing, delay, and temperature requirements.
Part two examines TTB’s 2020 wine labeling and advertising amendments, including changes to standards of identity and other Notice 176 proposals.
A 2019 Michigan winery dispute examines federal bonded-transfer rules and state limits on retail sales of transferred wine and cider.
The Momtazi vineyard dispute examines alleged cannabis-odor damage, concrete financial loss, and the pleading requirements for a RICO claim.
A 2019 Eighth Circuit decision allows farm wineries to challenge Minnesota ingredient requirements, applying Tennessee Wine’s constitutional framework.
A 2019 Michigan winery and cidery complaint challenges state restrictions affecting federally authorized bonded transfers and retail operations.
The 2019 farm-winery appeal examines Minnesota’s local-grape requirement, with links to briefs and oral argument in the Commerce Clause challenge.
Part eight examines proposed wine-labeling restrictions and standards of identity in TTB’s Notice 176 modernization rulemaking.
A Bogle–Next Wine dispute examines prior trademark-office arguments and whether patent prosecution-history estoppel applies to trademark claims.
