Intellectual Property Law

Seattle Craft Microbrewery Resolves Trademark Dispute by Changing Its Name

By Michael Atkins

 Smouha Fabrics’ Lucky Buddha (left)
and Laughing Buddha’s beer bottles 

On Feb. 24, Seattle craft microbrewery Laughing Buddha Brewing Co. announced it has agreed to resolve a trademark dispute with Smouha Fabrics, owner of the Lucky Drink Company of Australia, by changing its name. Beginning April 1, the company will be known as the Trade Route Brewing Company.

Lucky Drink reportedly sent a cease-and-desist letter to Laughing Buddha in May 2008, alleging that Laughing Buddha’s name and trademark were confusingly similar to Lucky Drink’s LUCKY BUDDHA registered trademark and Buddha-bottle trade dress.

“We didn’t feel that we were infringing on their trademark,” Laughing Buddha’s co-owner Chris Castillo said in a written statement. “Smouha is a big corporation and we couldn’t afford to go through the litigation process.”

The soon-to-be-former Laughing Buddha began selling its Asian-influenced beer in the Seattle area in late 2007.

Thanks to Venkat Balasubramani of Seattle’s Spam Notes blog for the tip. He’ll be enjoying some sushi on me tomorrow.

Full post as published by Seattle Trademark Lawyer on February 24, 2009 (boomark / email).