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At this rate, everyone that enters is gonna get a prize!
Posted 34 days ago.
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
#insertoprahimage
Posted 34 days ago.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
> Bell's probably owned a trademark on that "bottling innovation" phrase,
They do not.> just that we don't bash sponsors in the sponsor thread.
Posted 34 days ago.
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.
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.
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.
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
Final rules will be posted no later than July 1 (the official opening of competition entry acceptance).
Posted 34 days ago.
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.
Even NHC didn't get this kind of swag :P
Posted 34 days ago.