Trademark Law

Craft brewers find good beer names are limited; one conflict creates 'Collaboration Not Litigation'

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Trademark issues are bubbling up among brewers, due to the popularity of craft beer.

“There are only so many words and names that make sense with beer, so it’s not surprising that many people will come up with the same ideas,” self-described craft beer attorney Candace Moon tells NPR.

Bitter End, for example, is a name shared by at least three different brews, the article notes. Kilt Lifter has also been used multiple times.

However, not all of the branding disputes are fought to the finish in courtrooms. When brewers in California and Colorado found that both were selling Salvation, they sat down together at a Colorado beer festival. As a result of their chat the two now market a blend of the two Salvation brews. It is labeled Collaboration Not Litigation.

See also:

ABAJournal.com: “Brewery sues DUI law firm, says look-alike ‘Sessions Law’ mark confuses ‘Session Lager’ customers”

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