Trademark Fights and Making Up

[Matt Stinchfield]

I'm wondering what examples of brewers fighting brewers over brewery and beer names are out there. I know of several, like Monster drink versus the Vermonster beer by Rock Art, but would like more examples. This is a prelude question to thoughts I have on collaboration beers. Thanks, TPJ.

[Matt Stinchfield]

Hello? Earth to the Aleuminati? Anybody out there? TPJ

[Ray Grace]

There are several beers with the title Kilt Lifter,(Moylans, Pike, and at least one other) .
There was a recent battle between Lost Abbey and Moylan's about tap handle similarities. One, fairly famous, is the fact that both Russian River and Avery have beers called Salvation, so rather than fighting over the name they just brewed and blended the two beers together and named it Collaboration Not Litigation.

[Matt Stinchfield]

Thanks Ray. These are good examples. Have the Kilt Lifter beers been engaged in conflict with one another? It seems to me that the "Salvation" instance was the one that initiated the collaboration phenomenon. Is that your understanding? Cheers, TPJ

[Ray Grace]

You may be right about the Salvation instance initiating the collaboration phenomenon, as least Nationally. I'm not sure if the Kilt Lifter examples led to any legal action or not.

[Chris of thebeergeek.com]

Here is the Kilt Lifter answer in regards to Moylan's
http://beernews.org/2009/10/moylan-kilt-lifter-no-more/

[Matt Stinchfield]

Thanks Chris. This links to a good thread with several trademark stories. Cheers. TPJ

[theBryon]

I've been talking with brewers in my home state of CT, trying to get them to do more in the way of collaboration. Seems they may have had some issues along these lines. Beers with similar names, with connections to regions of the state their competitors focus on... Naming beers after certain landmarks, things of that nature. I was surprised and saddened when I "looked behind the curtain" to see the level of behind the scenes squabbling that exists in the local industry.

[Matt Stinchfield]

Thanks tB. I didn't know of those and will research further. Cheers. TPJ