To be fair to Gordon Biersch, it would take a true idiot to confuse OB Gordon with a Gordon Biersch beer.
It does bother me that corporate branding has taken precedence over honoring the memory of a wonderful human being.
So a company can't try to protect their branding because a guy is dead? It seems everyone of you have made a deliberate choice to ignore the fact that there was an agreement in place that was violated by Oskar Blues and that is why it has come to this.
This thread couldn't back up Biersch's position any more effectively.
So a company can't try to protect their branding because a guy is dead? It seems everyone of you have made a deliberate choice to ignore the fact that there was an agreement in place that was violated by Oskar Blues and that is why it has come to this.
This thread couldn't back up Biersch's position any more effectively.
So they change it to G'Knight. An equally fitting homage and they get a shytload of press in the process.
someone needed to raise their hand and ask, "Do we really want to do this?"
I think what many of us are saying is that this cease and desist does no such thing. Nobody was confusing beers made by a company called Gordon Biersch with a specific beer called Gordon from a completely different brewery. I guess this precludes everyone else from using the words Oscar or Blue in the name of their beers.Like northernlad said, is it really bad that a company wants to protect the trademark and name it has spent hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars building and advertising?
I guess this precludes everyone else from using the words Oscar or Blue in the name of their beers.
That's the thing I'm totally not understanding here... I'm not well versed in trademark law, anyone with more understanding care to chime in?
Is A-B's awful "Wild Blue" lager infringing upon the trademark of Oskar Blues because they both have the word blue in them?
There are tons of words that cross over a variety of different brands, how is it forbidden for Oskar Blues to do the same thing? Labatt Blue, Blue Moon, Blue Star, how is all these beers using the word Blue OK, but two different beers both using the word "Gordon" not?
Good post Wayne.....
One off topic item that I would like to point out to those that may not know or don't have access to Oscar Blues beers......look at the back of a can, or the can design above, at the "screen" between "ball" and "OB". That always makes me laugh!
Good post Wayne.....
One off topic item that I would like to point out to those that may not know or don't have access to Oscar Blues beers......look at the back of a can, or the can design above, at the "screen" between "ball" and "OB". That always makes me laugh!
****! My last name is Gordon! Does this mean when I start a brewery I can't name it Gordon Brewing Company?!?
It's unfortunate that there was a conflict over something intended to be a tribute.
I think what many of us are saying is that this cease and desist does no such thing. Nobody was confusing beers made by a company called Gordon Biersch with a specific beer called Gordon from a completely different brewery.
For a look at what could have been done in the brewing industry, look at the story behind Avery/Russian River Collaboration, Not Litigation.
Both brewers became aware that the other was brewing a beer by the name of "Salvation." Instead of seeking a lawsuit, they sat down at a bar and over a few of their beers they decided to not only continue making their own beers with that name but to also to do a collaboration by blending the two and celebrating their common ground.
The craft brew industry is full of stories of brewers working together. It is only when the corporate mentality overwhelms the brewer's better nature that we see this sort of despicable nonsense.
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