UPDATE: Bell’s Issues Response on Innovation Trademark Dispute
According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, Bell’s Brewery of Michigan is in a trademark dispute with Innovation Brewing of Sylva, NC.
From the Citizen-Times:
Bell’s has filed a federal action against Innovation over the use of its name. Bell’s says its unregistered advertising slogan “bottling innovation since 1985” could lead to confusion with customers. While the slogan is used on bumper stickers, it’s not present on any of the brewery’s beer packaging.
Bell’s also uses a slogan “inspired brewing,” which has been part of the legal complaint, that the company believes would be confused with Innovation Brewing’s name.
On its Facebook page, Bell’s released the following statement:
We hear and appreciate everyone’s comments about a trademark issue with Innovation Brewing.
We are doing our best to continue working through this as amicably as possible and are hopeful we can find a mutual resolution.
Out of respect for the legal part of this process that we are now in, we will decline commenting further.
RELATED: The Great Beer Trademark Wars
I have purchased my last Bell’s beer. With so many other good beers out there, why bother with a brewery who is so petty and small and the same time basically a bully.
With the increasingly robust, flourishing craft beer scene, it’s petty for them to come to this. Bell’s should reflect on how they’d feel if, at their start, Anheuser-Bush or Coors had done similar shit.
Drop it and play nice, or I’ll never drink your beer, or recommend you, ever again.
Bell’s has encountered cease & desists in the past from Molson. For that reason, what was previosuly known as Bell’s SunSole is now known as Oberon. Breweries re-name, change packaging, establish new slogans constantly. For Innovation to act as if this is some massive surprise, and for their local paper to be the one fanning the flames shows their true colors. For those that are threatening to never drink Bell’s again, really?
Solsun.
I have drank my last Bell’s…sorry guys you don’t own the English language. Very shallow and petty of you.
I agree with what Bell’s is doing. I doubt that the Bell’s organization has approached this situation with malicious intent. Do we not remember the Bell family standing up for all american craft breweries in front of congress a few years ago? In an ever growing and ever increasingly competitive craft beer market brand recognition is hugely important. Any possible confusion therein can cause real and serious consequences for all parties involved.Youve got my support guys. Brew on!
i will not buy another bells product
Good! More for the rest of us.
I will continue to partake in your amazing product. Right is right. They were in the wrong so sue the crap out of them. It is buisness.
This is ridiculous, Bells has done well for themselves and helped pave the way for the current beer Renaissance that we all are lucky enough to enjoy. It’s a tag line for Bells, and as an avid Bells drinker would have never made the connection. But, living in North Carolina, I can choose not to drink their beer. Pick your battles, if you are that scared, it speaks volumes. Let your beer speak for itself.
People need to stop taking these suits personally. It is only a brand trying to protect their identity. This is business not home brewing anymore if you’re tired of lawsuits go join a homebrew club because with 3000+ craft brewers there’s a lot more on their way
I like bells, but will not continue to purchase due to frivolous claims of inspirationaly brewing or whatever. When suggesting one to try a beer I have never said, “oh you know, the one that is inspirational brewed”
Come on Bells I have supported you for a while -great tasting beer and a Mi.brand -Don’t go down that road.
This is so ridiculous! Patenting phrases is about as low as it gets in the business world. I’ve never even heard of this brewery, but reading about this lame attempt automatically makes me feel angst and disgust over their business practices as well as their mission. I understand you are in the business to make money, but honestly, I could care less about the fact that you’ve been providing “innovation” for the past 30 years. What exactly have you innovated in a beer that I’ve never heard of?
First of all the person who has never heard of Bells should not be commenting on this at all . You may know business practices, but your credibility as a beer drinker is gone. Drink your bud light and shut up ! Bells has paved the way for a lot craft brews . They make a good product and that’s that . People who say they will not drink bells again really ???
IP lawyers forever hallucinating “infringements.” They have families to feed, you know.
While I can’t say I agree with Bell’s contentions that their brand will some how get confused with what appears to be some yahoo (no offense old grand pooba) mom and pop shop, it’s their money to spend on lawyers if they feel their 30 year old brand could be threatened.
For all you sanctimonious blowhards threatening not to drink a Bell’s product, stick with the King of Beers who’s been in a patent lawsuit for over 100 years – and they ripped off Budejovichy Budvar in the first place.
Mmmmmmm….Oberon…delicious! One of my favorite, I’ll be buying some more next chance I get!