Another Big Brewer Goes After A Small Guy: Moosehead vs. Adirondack

I remember these days. The days when "ice-brewed" was the innovative rage.

 

Well, the dude owns a brewery in the backyard of a semi-large regional pop maker, and uses the pop makers name for his brewery. Has to name his pop something else. Comes under fire for his pop from a brewery. But his brewery isn't under attack from the pop maker. Maybe this is Canadia's revenge for Bear Republic making Central City change the name of Red Racer? I'm a bit confused.

 

I had no idea Moose Head was still in production. They could probably benefit from someone putting their name out there.

 

Moosehead reminds me of an old Irish saying: "If you are lonely, start a fight." They can't get attention for the quality of their beer so they might as well sue somebody. At least then we will know that Moosehead is still in business.

 

It is free and easy to search the US Trademark database. I don't understand why anyone would open a business/release a product without first checking this database and ensuring that the name chosen cannot be misconstrued or attacked in any way, shape, or form.

Like several have already said on here, hoping for "public opinion" is usually neither the wisest nor most reliable business strategy...

 

I wish the term bullying was used in every case. This one, on the surface, it looks at first glance the logo on the root beer could be a Moosehead rebranding. but I'm no expert.

 

I absolutely could see myself looking for Moosehead beer and buying this root beer instead. Silly me.

 

Moosehead should be worried... Adirondack makes some fairly decent beer. Fat Scotsman Ale and Snow Trout Stout being my two favorites. I would take those over a Moosehead any day.

 

Head V. Drool, guys.



HEAD V. DROOL

 

People still drink Moosehead?

 

A lot of the new beers are starting to taste like each other, too.

 

sad. just sad.

 

It is difficult to have any sympathy for Adirondack brewery on this issue. I absolutely despise that their ipa is called "Iroquois" and has the image of a Native American as the bottle art. For this reason alone I will never purchase their products or visit their brewery. Let alone that "Iroquois" ("snake in the grass" in Algonkin) is a derogatory way to refer to Haudenosaunee peoples ("people of the longhouse" - Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Tuscarora) the brewery specifically states "all our labels are based on legend". I know that this is BA and conversations concerning politics and religion are taboo, however, viewing native people and native culture as "legends" has had very negative effects on contemporary native communities - particularly here in NY in Haudenosaunee country. Furthermore I see no evidence of a reciprocal/collaborative relationship between Adirondack and local indigenous (Mohawk) communities. Fuck them, sounds like a classic example of chickens coming home to roost.

 

Are they? As usual, there is only one side presented in the story about this dispute. It wouldn't exactly be unprecedented for the small company to be total dicks to the large company when informed of possible trademark infringement, and then take to the Interwebs in order to garner support in the battle of big guy vs. little guy, as well as the free publicity that comes with it.

 

I never knew the origin of Iroquois. Thank you for the history lesson.

 

This is also a interesting take on the issue from a trademark perspective. Generally speaking, marks are not granted to terms which are considered "offensive" at the time of the grant. Similar to the Washington Redskins issue.