The owners of a tavern in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin have reportedly changed its name from “The Ninkasi Pub” to “Kimkasi Pub” after the Ninkasi Brewery Co. in Eugene, Oregon threatened legal action.
The brewery’s lawyer reportedly informed them that, due to potential confusion between their two businesses and infringement of the brewery’s trademark on “Ninkasi”, they must abandon their name or face legal repercussions.
When asked to provide words of wisdom for other business owners choosing a name, owner Kim Minette reportedly said that more due diligence could have been used to avoid potential trademark disputes. In fairness to Minette, however, she also said she did not know the name “Ninkasi” – the Sumerian goddess of beer – could be trademarked at all
Authors: Larissa Fulop and Sasha Engel Hercz
Authors
Expertise
Insights
-
Intellectual Property Litigation
Rise of Trademark Phishing Scams
There has been a reported surge in trademark phishing scams. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) issued a statement warning of an email phishing scam targeting members of the public by… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
The Return of the Honda Element?
A few recent patent applications reveal that the Honda Element may be making its return to the automotive industry: The first patent application is a “camper for a vehicle”. The second… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
"Worldle" Faces a Wordle Hurdle
Kory McDonald, the creator of “Worldle”, a geography-themed game, is advocating on behalf of all games ending in “-le”. Worldle shows a series of Google Street view images from which players… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
Not a “Success Kid”
Steve King, the former Iowa Republican Congressman, has reportedly lost his appeal attempting to overturn a copyright verdict for using the “Success Kid” meme in his 2020 campaign. The “Success… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
All the Corollas of the Rainbow
Toyota has reportedly filed a patent application for a colour-changing paint that changes colour when exposed to specific temperatures and light sources. This technique involves painting the car… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
Alaska Airlines Not Soaring After Losing Appeal
Alaska Airlines (“Alaska”) recently lost an appeal over a trademark licensing agreement at the Court of Appeal in London, in a decision favoring Virgin Group. Alaska was ordered to pay approximately…