Moosehead locks antlers with Vermont pub
Trademark battle with Hop’n Moose Brewing Co., which recently began canning its beer
Canada’s largest independent brewery is once again charging at a smaller competitor in a trademark dispute over its moosethemed names and logos.
Moosehead Breweries has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the Hop’n Moose Brewing Co. in Rutland, Vt., arguing that the brewpub’s similarity in names and logos could create confusion and injure the Moosehead brand.
“As a family-owned company, Moosehead Breweries respects and supports the efforts of small business owners everywhere,” Moosehead said in an emailed statement.
“It is, however, incumbent on us to protect our business interests, including our corporate trademarks.” In court documents, Moosehead said it owns multiple U.S. trademark registrations for the words “moose” and “moosehead” as well as images of the head and antlers of a moose.
Hop’n Moose opened in 2014 and recently began canning its beer, which is sold in about 15 nearby stores. In court documents, Moosehead said that the Vermont brew pub has also been using its trademarks on promotional materials and related consumer products since the business first opened its doors.
Moosehead said in the lawsuit that it had made repeated and numerous demands to Hop’n Moose owner Dale Patterson to cease using its trademarks, to no avail.
Patterson said Tuesday he hadn’t seen Moosehead’s lawsuit, but doesn’t want to change his logo.
This isn’t the first time a small brewer has attracted the ire of Moosehead. In 2002, Moosehead won its U.S. trademark dispute with an Idaho brewery looking to add the name “moose” to one of its products. After a five-year battle, Grand Teton Brewing Co. discontinued its Moose Juice Stout.