Monster Energy Drinks attack VT Microbrewery

[Baja_Brewer]

Just got the FB update that shirts are available on http://rockartbrewery.com/ to support the Vermonster.

Also, from the top of the Home page

America You have saved
THE VERMONSTER !!

Your voice has caused corporate america to rethink its position

We can continue to brew our beer as we have since 2006!!

Yea!!! huge victory for the people!!

POWER to the PEOPLE
POWER belongs to the people

Followed by "statement soon" at the bottom. I know that at this point Monster has decided to "rethink its position" but they also know they need to do is keep it up for a few months and they will bankrupt Rock Art... I'll be buying a t-shirt to help their legal fees. Next time I'm up there I'll also be getting myself a case of Vermonster.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

Oh, and this thread is linked on the rock art page at the bottom of the SAVE VERMONSTER link.

Probably at the bottom because...well, we're us...

GO VERMONSTER!

 

[GregR]

Awesome!!!

 

[dunnright00]

Nice! I tried to order a shirt, but I got an error message.
I sent them an email about it...

 

[humann_brewing]

Oh, and this thread is linked on the rock art page at the bottom of the SAVE VERMONSTER link.

Probably at the bottom because...well, we're us...

GO VERMONSTER!

the only thing is that the link is wrong as it includes facebook in the link and ends up going to facebook. I wrote them about it last week in my email saying I was fighting for them but still hasn't been changed.

 

[Nova5]

Goes to show just how brutal of a backlash can come from the internet. Before the internet it would have taken months to generate such a large amount of of public notice. Now it takes merely days. Sometimes the internet is frightening.

 

[GregR]

anonymous can be a cruel mistress. the explosion and recognition of this story reminded me of an article I read about internet vigilantism and how things that people might have used to be able to get away with got their asses handed to them from the internet.

http://www.cracked.com/article_17170_8-awesome-cases-internet-vigilantism.html

 

[Austin_]

Nice! I tried to order a shirt, but I got an error message.
I sent them an email about it...

They posted on Facebook that they're having trouble taking more than one order at a time right now and are on the phone trying to fix it right now.

And I'm not going to lie, now that it's mostly all said and done, this might be the best thing that ever happened to Rock Art. Lawyer fees could almost be considered marketing costs if all ends well. Hell, I never heard of them before this. Now I have one of their shirts and want to try their beer. Here's to a bright future for a couple of people who worked their ass off to get there.

 

[huntsman]

Victory for Rock Art!!! Wooooo-Hoooooooo!!!!!

http://www.rockartbrewery.com/

....I know I'm late, but, it's worth posting again

 

[FlashRedGLS18T]

This is awesome!

 

[IrregularPulse]

This is so awesome!! Way to go everyone here that joined the fight and everyone everywhere else. I have no doubt it was the home brewing community that played a large part in this David vs Galliath story.

 

[FireBrewer]

Just goes to show, we can make a difference.

 

[bernerbrau]

That's just cool guys. Great job.

I didn't do much other than send an angry email two days before they pulled the plug and inquire as to ways I could support the brewery more substantially... but to everyone else who really came forward here, good on all you guys.

 

[CodeRage]

Very cool, still not happy with Monster. I am not sure if I can buy any of their products again unless some kind of public apology was given. even then....

I am glad Rock Art was able to use this to come out on top and take advantage of the advertising. Though I am sure it wasn't worth the head/heart ache that started it all.

It does go to show, the consumer has great power of these large corporations.

 

[FlashRedGLS18T]

Very cool, still not happy with Monster. I am not sure if I can buy any of their products again unless some kind of public apology was given. even then....

I agree with you on this. I have a bitter taste in my mouth in regards to Hansens/Monster now.

 

[Nova5]

If only I could get some shipped to me.. perhapse the nearby spirits store will order it for me.

 

[niquejim]

Very cool, still not happy with Monster. I am not sure if I can buy any of their products again unless some kind of public apology was given. even then....

They have to fight to keep their trademark safe, and they chose to save the little guy court costs. They did what was right for their shareholders, and what was Right. I for one will once again buy their products.

 

[Gremlyn]

Yay Vermonster wins! Go Rockart

 

[pdbreen]

They have to fight to keep their trademark safe, and they chose to save the little guy court costs. They did what was right for their shareholders, and what was Right. I for one will once again buy their products.

Doing what's right when everyone is watching is very different than doing what's right when no one is. In this case, because of the internet/media/grassroots support, everyone was watching.

I understand your comments and rational, but my opinion of Monster hasn't changed.

 

[annasdadhockey]

Doing what's right when everyone is watching is very different than doing what's right when no one is. In this case, because of the internet/media/grassroots support, everyone was watching.

I understand your comments and rational, but my opinion of Monster hasn't changed.

Well put pd..., well put.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

Doing what's right when everyone is watching is very different than doing what's right when no one is. In this case, because of the internet/media/grassroots support, everyone was watching.

I understand your comments and rational, but my opinion of Monster hasn't changed.

I totally agree. Here is the latest statement from the rock art website.

Thank you ! Vermont, America and everyone for your efforts. you can all say that you were a part of this event!
I raise a glass to you all as I type this in Morrisville, Vermont U.S.A.
I have the statement here, a three part letter including a time line of events from September 14th to October 21st.
This media event lasted only 21 days! [PDF Warning]
America, you have contributed to a powerful tool, traditional media combined with social media, what do you want to do with that tool as we move forward?
Sincerely, Matt Nadeau

 

[Baja_Brewer]

I just re-read that letter and it brings a tear to my eye. Matt Nadeau is one happy man, rightfully so. He won that battle, hopefully without too many personal costs, and that is a huge step forward for small businesses. And for Matt.

Not only has he received a massive amount of publicity due to this issue, he came out victorious. I'll be buying a t-shirt from him to hopefully help him recover some of his legal costs, and I'll be going to the brewery next time I'm home in VT to buy his beer, so that he can get all the mark-up value.

Long live craft breweries, long live Rock Art, long live Vermonster(s)!

 

[huntsman]

Doing what's right when everyone is watching is very different than doing what's right when no one is. In this case, because of the internet/media/grassroots support, everyone was watching.

I understand your comments and rational, but my opinion of Monster hasn't changed.

I agree 100%

 

[MeatyPortion]

Why did Monster want to bully them anyway? They practically have a monopoly over here in Iraq as far as energy drinks go. There's some Redbull but mostly there are cases and cases of Monster which I, for one, will no longer be drinking. It's Green Beans Double White Chocolate Mocha Latte from now on.

 

[Hotspur]

There's a growing trend of having alcoholic energy drinks. So, there's little correlation NOW, but if Hansen wanted to make an alcoholic version of Monster, suddenly it's a lot closer in name and subject.

Depending on how their CEO responded, I likely would have made some smart ass comment about "Sure, we'll stay out of energy drinks, does that mean you're staying out of beer/alcohol?" Because now that it's agreed that Vermonster doesn't infringe, it gives them prior art for that in the beer/alcohol category, which means Hansen would either be infringing, or would need to create a new brand.

 

[MeatyPortion]

I'm just waiting for the word "the" to become trademarked and a furious legal battle ensuing.

 

[Mantis]

I'm just waiting for the word "the" to become trademarked and a furious legal battle ensuing.

Yeah really! The sad thing is that I could see this happening.....

Lance Armstrong's "Live Strong" Co. kind of left a bad taste in my mouth after I heard about them trying to sue a company that made rubber cat and dog collars that said "Bark Strong" and "Meow Strong". I don't know the outcome of that case, but the whole Hansen Beverage Co. debacle reminded of that. It's almost like these companies have nothing else better to do than start trouble. It's like they go lookin' for it!

 

[MeatyPortion]

Ack. Corporate greed knows no boundaries. Yeah, I know: there's a fine line between protecting your intellectual property and being a power hungry *******.

 

[mitch171]

It's almost like these companies have nothing else better to do than start trouble. It's like they go lookin' for it!

Kind of true, most big companies have lawyers on salary to look for stuff like this. So if they don't find things they might become a good place to cut the budget. That said I still don't like it, but someone is just trying to do their job.

This really makes me happy thinking about how we still do have a democracy here. It is really awesome this worked. In response to his question about how we should use this tool. How about finding other cases and plugging that in to the network that was created through this injustice?

 

[Ksosh]

Kind of true, most big companies have lawyers on salary to look for stuff like this. So if they don't find things they might become a good place to cut the budget. That said I still don't like it, but someone is just trying to do their job.

This really makes me happy thinking about how we still do have a democracy here. It is really awesome this worked. In response to his question about how we should use this tool. How about finding other cases and plugging that in to the network that was created through this injustice?

They obviously weren't working too hard (Re: Brooklyn Brewery's "Monster Barleywine")