Disney/Lucas Films is going after a brewery for possible trademark infringement. I agree that the name could lend one to believe that it is endorsed by Disney/Lucas
Yeah, in this case it looks to me like the brewery was hoping to capitalize on the trademark. They should have known better.
Oh man, I hope they don’t come after me for “Return of the Red-Rye”…
Yeah, pretty dumb on their part. After Starbucks sued over the ‘Frappacino’ beer a different brewery sold, these guys had to know what was coming.
At least yours would have a larger character count and is missing two letters from the original. Back and Bock are pretty close. And as he noted in the article, "label on a bottle might make it appear like “Empire Strikes Bock.” I’m sure they would try to get away with using a very similar logo in purple and all. Dude knew better and is now bathing in publicity as he is finishing the build out his production brewery.
Let’s hope they don’t get wind of New England Brewing’s Imperial Stout Trooper. Of course, they may have gotten approval for this when Lucas was in charge.
I have to side with Disney/Lucas on this one. I think on the homebrew level, my Chinookiee Wookiee is safe.
the label specimen in their app does not give any graphic impression of the movie to me but the name is printed simply as “Empire Strikes Bock” which seems to an obvious enough play off of “Empire Strikes Back”. I think Disney/Lucas is in the right on this one. IMHO
It would be like trying to register “Kriseler” to selling my “City and Rural” mini-van.
Paul
He already had -
Wow, framing it takes a special brand of… Let’s go with chutzpah. :
Remember - LucasFilm = Disney now…
Use of something like this in the marketing materials really?
Yeah, you’re asking for it when you do something like that.
They had to be seeking the hype, even knowing they’d have to cease and desist. Nobody is that naive and dumb.
I take it you don’t deal with the public.
Exactly. In other news, I just brewed my IIPA “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hop.”
Actually I do :D. I just think doing it for hype makes more sense than an innocent brain fart of that magnitude.
EDIT - Having said that, since I do work with the public, an epic act of dumba$$ery is never beyond the realm.
Great stuff Sean!