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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> Brewing Forum --> Brewing Discussion --> Official 2015 BrewUnited Competition Sponsor Thread

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KidMoxie
Charter Member
San Elijo Hills, CA
405 Posts


At this rate, everyone that enters is gonna get a prize!




Posted 34 days ago.

testingapril
Charter Member
Atlanta, GA
595 Posts


I am not excited that Bell's is a sponsor. They are a lousy business that is actively hurting the craft brewing scene. https://www.facebook.com/innovationbrewing/posts/455657244592313




Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by testingapril

zeith
Charter Member
Seattle, WA
41 Posts








#insertoprahimage







Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Heh... whats gonna happen is that there will be some AMAZING prizes for the winners.

As for Bell's being lousy... I don't think that's fair.  Trademark disputes are the way of business.  Valid dispute or not, I'm not sure what that has to do with a homebrewing competition.

Also, I refused to click on the ad to read the rest of the content on the paywall you linked.  




Posted 34 days ago.

testingapril
Charter Member
Atlanta, GA
595 Posts


Didn't realize there was a paywall. I guess my ad blocker gets me past it. My bad. Fixed the link to their public facebook post about the situation.

I'm probably more lenient than most on the interwebs about trademark disputes. They absolutely have their place. This one is absolutely wrong. They have no case, and they know it, but they know they can bully small breweries without the funds and lawyers to fight back.

> I'm not sure what that has to do with a homebrewing competition.

I want to have nothing to do with Bell's.




Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by testingapril

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


As a content provider, I don't use adblock unless it's a particularly egregious site (autoplay video, etc). 

I'm not going to comment on the case.  I fully respect your right to do business with whomever you choose.  

That said, could we maybe refrain from bashing sponsors in the official sponsor thread?  Again, I'm not sure what hooking us up with prizes to give away has to do with trademark disputes.




Posted 34 days ago.

ercousin
Charter Member
Toronto, Canada
77 Posts


In regards to that specific case, it's always good to hear both sides: https://www.facebook.com/BellsBreweryInc/posts/866186226753419

My understanding is that Bell's probably owned a trademark on that "bottling innovation" phrase, and when Innovation Brewing went to submit their trademark Bell's feared they could lose their trademark since they were too similar. If you don't defend your trademark, you lose it so Bell's tried to defend it in the least aggressive way possible.

Olan is right though, probably better to debate this offline.




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Yep.  I used to get up in arms about David vs. Goliath stories, but I treat them all with multiple grains of salt, these days.  

I'm not even asking that we debate offline - feel free to start a thread to talk about it - just that we don't bash sponsors in the sponsor thread.




Posted 34 days ago.

testingapril
Charter Member
Atlanta, GA
595 Posts


> Bell's probably owned a trademark on that "bottling innovation" phrase,

They do not.

> so Bell's tried to defend it in the least aggressive way possible.

They did not. See the facebook post I replaced the article with.

> just that we don't bash sponsors in the sponsor thread.

Feel free to move my posts if you see fit. I just wanted to say that I am not excited about Bell's being a sponsor, and felt that giving a reason would be more appropriate than just saying so.




Posted 34 days ago.

chino_brews
Charter Member
Eden Prairie, MN
301 Posts


Sorry to be so direct here, Dan, but you're dead wrong on the Bell's thing.

1. Bell's *does* own a trademark on the catch phrase "Bottling innovation ..." in at least the beer space. You don't have to register a trademark to own it. You just have to use it in commerce, and defend against anyone else's use of it.

2. If Bell's fails to protect the trademark against Innovation Brewing, then A-B or anyone else can come along and start infringing on the "innovation" phrase with impunity.

3. Whether Bell's defended the trademark as gently as possible is irrelevant. First in time, first in right. And, in fact, Bell's was pretty gentle, asking Innovation to withdraw it's trademark application and offering $2,500 as comp. Bell's has no obligation to offer the Asheville brewers millions of dollars to not steal Bell's property, and doing anything other than bitchslapping them with a lawsuit *is* generous.

4. Innovation Brewing were complete idiots for not doing a name search before settling on a name. It is a common and standard thing that will be recommended by any non-incompetent business attorney, and can be done at a reasonable cost relative to what legal fees cost. I hope their beer is better than their business sense.

Also, IMO, Innovation Brewing is a hackneyed, uninspired choice for a brewery name anyway; the sort of name a brewery would choose if its beer couldn't speak well for it.

In fact, if Innovation or Bell's doesn't back down, then the USPTO or the
courts will decide whether Bell's has been protecting its trademark
well enough, and whether it's unique enough to deserve protection. In other words, the only way Innovation Brewing wins is by proving that their chosen name is totally ordinary and lame.





Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


So, back to the original purpose of this thread.  We gladly welcome in another new sponsor - The Yeast Bay is donating three vials of their artisanal yeast to our competitions winners.  Thanks!




Posted 34 days ago.

davidg
Kula, HI
137 Posts


Awesome, the list gets bigger and bigger!  When are the final rules going to be posted?  I know it was mentioned somewhere but I can't find it. 



Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by davidg

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Final rules will be posted no later than July 1 (the official opening of competition entry acceptance).



Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Okay.  I usually wait until I know everything, but I'm so excited about our newest sponsor that I wanted to share before I get their final prize pledge.

The American Homebrewers Association has agreed to donate a prize package consisting of "books, t-shirts, glasses, and other schwag".  I'm not sure how much more legit our competition can become!




Posted 34 days ago.

KidMoxie
Charter Member
San Elijo Hills, CA
405 Posts


Even NHC didn't get this kind of swag :P






Posted 34 days ago.

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