Trademark Law

Legal Threat Results in One Less Billy Goat

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A billy goat curse may be extending beyond the Chicago Cubs. It’s also apparently afflicting the owner of a California tavern who says he’ll change his establishment’s name to avoid a legal fight.

Billy Truby, owner of Billy Goat’s Tavern in Mount Shasta, says he decided to change the name after receiving a letter threatening legal action from a lawyer for Chicago’s famous Billy Goat Tavern, according to Mount Shasta Area Newspapers.

“I didn’t want to put the time and money into fighting this,” Truby told the publication. “What it comes down to is that they have the name trademarked. Whatever happens we’re gonna send them a box of Kleenex, a violin and a menu.”

The Chicago tavern gained fame after the Chicago Cubs denied admittance to a goat owned by the bar owner in game four of the World Series in 1945. The owner put a hex on the team, according to Cubs lore.

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