This just really rubs me the wrong way. Rock Art Brewery located in Morrisville, VT is being attacked by Hansen Beverage Company, owners of Monster Energy Drink, in attempt to get them cease and desist with their Barleywine's name "The Vermonster".... Hansen Bev Co says they're considering moving into the beer market (I call bullshi+) and that the name of this beer would cause confusion. I'm sorry, but beer drinkers will have heard whatever hype Hansen decides to create for whatever drink they make, and should know the difference between that and an $8-9 bomber of (AWESOME) Barleywine. And if they don't...they won't make the mistake more than once.
Here is the article , but I'm just seriously peeved that such a large company would attack an incredible small time operation like this (I know, it happens all the time)
I have never purchased Monster, and now you can be damn sure that I never will. I'm a fan of the boycott put forth by some Vermont businesses, and I hope it will spread. If you're an energy drink consumer, please consider NEVER buying Monster again!!
(I don't really want to debate on this, thats why put it here, I'm just pretty pissed.)
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This is up there with Beretta Holdings suing Chevy because having a car and a handgun with the same name would be too much for their customer to deal with. Or Sony America suing a delicatessen.
Hansen should also shutdown truck shows and horror flicks.
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I think the real tragedy here is that some POS lawyers are going to charge them a minimum of $65,000 for legal fees if they take Hansen to court. The problem isn't that large companies attack little businesses, it's that our legal system has become so corrupt that little businesses can't even afford to make a stand!
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I think the real tragedy here is that some POS lawyers are going to charge them a minimum of $65,000 for legal fees if they take Hansen to court.
I somewhat agree but I'm sure its not just the lawyers charges, there are plenty of court fees and documentation charges. Not standing up for lawyers here, but I imagine the owners of Rock Art know some decent folks that would possibly cut them a break. Lord knows I would if I was in that position, I'd do as much of it for free as I could... But the lawyers have an excellent point...taking on a company that gross that much in profit may not be in their best interest.
I still, however, think that large companies shouldn't be able to take on the little guys in this manor though...
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Courage les garçons, et patience, vos femmes vont finir par apprécier la bière !
HBT has nearly 40,000 members. That gives us the power to help a fellow craft brewer. Just sent an email telling them how I will be drinking RockStar from now on.
It drives me up the wall when a company or person try to own any use of a word that's been around long before them. I remember when Spike TV adopted their name, Spike Lee sued them over it. They brought in the family of Spike Jones who said they had it first and didn't mind at all.
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Monster Energy Drinks attack VT Microbrewery
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