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Author Topic: Naming a beer Isn't that easy  (Read 6142 times)

Offline Jimmy K

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Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« on: June 10, 2013, 09:52:14 am »
I came across this in print over the weekend. I think people hear about Magic Hat/West 6th and think it's a rare event. Sounds like trademark conflicts are becoming more common as the craft beer industry matures. All the more reason to need to protect your own.
 
Naming a Beer Isn't that Easy
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Offline redbeerman

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2013, 05:36:37 am »
Wide distribution keeps trademark lawyers busy.  Uniqueness is getting harder and harder.
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Offline bluesman

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Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2013, 06:15:42 am »
It certainly isn't getting any easier in this rapidly growing market. The key here is to do your homework to make sure you're not stepping on anybody's toes, before you invest in a given brand. Pay me now or pay me later.
Ron Price

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2013, 06:38:51 am »
Part of the problem too is that many small breweries are producing for a local market, thinking locally, etc. But they're competing with national brands and who knows, may themselves become a national brand someday. 
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Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2013, 07:44:36 am »
It's nice to see some examples of collegial solutions.

Ultimately, what ever name you come up with someone has probably thought of it before.
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Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2013, 07:54:09 am »
[brewery name] [style] will almost always be a safe bet unless there is a problem with your brewery name (e.g. Strange Brewing) or you come across a style where the classification has been trademarked (e.g. steam beer).

Every time I hear/read people complain about how breweries shouldn't get so feisty about protecting their IP I think about how long ago Anchor obtained trademark protection on "Steam". The IP conflicts may be new-ish in brewing but the expectation that it would occur certainly isn't.
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Offline kylekohlmorgen

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2013, 10:51:55 am »
There could be a silver lining here:

Maybe, eventually, all hop/rye puns will be used up and breweries will be forced to use less stupid-sounding names:

"Hoppopotamus IPA", "Ryenheitsgebot American Lager", "Hoptimus Prime", "Golden Hopportunity blah blah", etc.

Ugh.
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Offline tonyp

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2013, 03:50:09 pm »
There could be a silver lining here:

Maybe, eventually, all hop/rye puns will be used up and breweries will be forced to use less stupid-sounding names:

"Hoppopotamus IPA", "Ryenheitsgebot American Lager", "Hoptimus Prime", "Golden Hopportunity blah blah", etc.

Ugh.

+1 I thought I might be the only one that was sick of this BS.
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Offline BrewingRover

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #8 on: June 11, 2013, 05:00:06 pm »
There could be a silver lining here:

Maybe, eventually, all hop/rye puns will be used up and breweries will be forced to use less stupid-sounding names:

"Hoppopotamus IPA", "Ryenheitsgebot American Lager", "Hoptimus Prime", "Golden Hopportunity blah blah", etc.

Ugh.

+1 I thought I might be the only one that was sick of this BS.

I'm hopping it ends soon.
It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

Offline Thirsty_Monk

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #9 on: June 11, 2013, 06:15:54 pm »
I never liked beers with funny / clever names.
i would like to know what I am drinking.
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Offline Hokerer

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #10 on: June 11, 2013, 06:56:11 pm »
There could be a silver lining here:

Maybe, eventually, all hop/rye puns will be used up and breweries will be forced to use less stupid-sounding names:

"Hoppopotamus IPA", "Ryenheitsgebot American Lager", "Hoptimus Prime", "Golden Hopportunity blah blah", etc.

Ugh.

+1 I thought I might be the only one that was sick of this BS.

I'm hopping it ends soon.

I'd prefer it end ryeght now
Joe

Offline rainmaker

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Re: Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #11 on: June 11, 2013, 07:54:12 pm »
There could be a silver lining here:

Maybe, eventually, all hop/rye puns will be used up and breweries will be forced to use less stupid-sounding names:

"Hoppopotamus IPA", "Ryenheitsgebot American Lager", "Hoptimus Prime", "Golden Hopportunity blah blah", etc.

Ugh.

+1 I thought I might be the only one that was sick of this BS.

I'm hopping it ends soon.

I'd prefer it end ryeght now


Ha! Love it.

In all seriousness, every once in a while I like a name with some history or something that doesn't seem so "hip"  or trendy. I like nugget nectar, java head stout, Bigfoot barleywine, the abyss, etc. But the hopolicious and rye d lightning etc can go
« Last Edit: June 11, 2013, 07:57:12 pm by rainmaker »

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2013, 09:12:11 pm »
Puns are fun. I like a Russian Lager called Sonia Leggoff

Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #13 on: June 11, 2013, 11:27:05 pm »
There could be a silver lining here:

Maybe, eventually, all hop/rye puns will be used up and breweries will be forced to use less stupid-sounding names:

"Hoppopotamus IPA", "Ryenheitsgebot American Lager", "Hoptimus Prime", "Golden Hopportunity blah blah", etc.

Ugh.

+1 I thought I might be the only one that was sick of this BS.

I'm hopping it ends soon.

I'd prefer it end ryeght now

That is very rye of you.
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Online MDixon

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Re: Naming a beer Isn't that easy
« Reply #14 on: June 12, 2013, 06:18:23 am »
I like names like Fred, Ruth or Adam from HOTD.

I think all the Trademarking is ridiculous. I mean you cannot say, "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" without Michael Buffer giving you the hairy eyeball.

http://mashbang.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/is-protecting-the-brand-that-important/
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