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More Corporate Bullying - Monster Suing Rock Art Brewery

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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
http://www.7dvt.com/2009monster-mash

Cliffs of the article
-Hansen Beverages sent a Cease & Desist to Rock Art Brewery over the name of one of their microbrews, Vermonster. They claim trademark infringement and "Your client’s use and registration of the Vermonster in connection with beer will undoubtedly create a likelihood of confusion and/or dilute the distinctive quality of Hansen’s Monster marks,”

Rock Art Brewery is a small micro-brewery located in Vermont.

This is a absurd and frivolous tactic but the owner of Rock Art Brewery is concerned about the financial impacts of Hansen drawing out the process with expensive appeals.

Just wanted to make sure you kids are aware of the corporate bullying that is going on by the makers of one of the top energy drinks, Monster.
Oct 12 2009 2:42PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
gahhh so stupid and frivolous.
Oct 12 2009 2:43PM
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Valind
Posts: 4358 - Karma: 17
Thats stupid.  Let them keep the name. 
Oct 12 2009 2:44PM
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Brenone
Posts: 4944 - Karma: 296

not trying to be that guy, but there was a thread on this.

https://www.newschoolers.com/web/forums/readthread/thread_id/488913/

anyway i think its absurd. if Rock Art was an Energy Drink company maybe they would have a valid point.

Oct 12 2009 2:50PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Hah, eff me.

I didn't run an acutal search. I just scanned the first two pages.

I'm going to leave this thread up though because a lot of people on this site consume energy drinks and they should all be aware of how ridiculous the owners and makers of Monster are being in this situation.
Oct 12 2009 2:59PM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
this is so retarded its not even funny, i bet 90% of the people who drink monster are under 21 in the first place so it shouldnt matter
Oct 12 2009 3:01PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
i dont know the law lingo but i know if your name is something common like the word "Monster" you pretty much forfeit copyrights on your name to a certain extent. Where as if it were something unique like monsta it would be a legit case. but monster is a common word and they even added vernmonster so they have no weight in this case. maybe there is an agenda behind this.  
Oct 12 2009 3:06PM
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spruitm
Posts: 2219 - Karma: 1,057
alcohol and energy drinks are meant to be together.  they should just team up
Oct 12 2009 3:08PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,012
that's so dumb. Do they really think that a small vermont brewery is gonna make a huge hit in profit?
Oct 12 2009 3:38PM
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freelowda
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 1,583
Saw this about a week ago and I don't want to see the issue die, I am gonna wave Rock Art's flag high on this one, not only because I detest frivolous corporate lawsuits, but I enjoy a Vermonster from time to time. Back the fuck off Hansen's / Monster Energy!
Oct 12 2009 4:14PM
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Hannah.
Posts: 4625 - Karma: 56
what the hell..this is so dumb.
Oct 12 2009 4:25PM
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[BRI]noceros
Posts: 2319 - Karma: 40
really monster? really? you're gonna sue this little brewery from vermont that in no way affects your business in a negative way?

that's so screwed up. fuck monster
Oct 12 2009 5:33PM
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Pman13a
Posts: 3800 - Karma: 451
haha theyre taking a page out of Monster Cables book.  Monster cable sues everyone over their monster names
Oct 12 2009 5:51PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Just keeping this on the radar...

Oct 19 2009 2:11PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,141
This is a really stupid infringement claim, but how hard would it be to change the name of a beer? Just strike a deal that henceforth we'll call it something else. I feel like the brewery could save a lot of money by capitulating to the bullies here and it wouldn't be THAT big a loss to them, it's not like they have to change the recipe.
Oct 19 2009 2:14PM
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kepler.
Posts: 8761 - Karma: 139
I hear Annheiser-Busch is trying to sue every cannabis smoker for calling it "bud" just in case they get in the marijuana business later.
Oct 19 2009 2:18PM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
they are probably getting so much publicity for the whole thing that i bet they actually want this to be an issue for a while, i doubt they will actually go to court to fight it but the publicity leading up to the whole thing is probably what they are in it for
Oct 19 2009 2:20PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Principle.
Oct 19 2009 2:22PM
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yojimbo
Posts: 3631 - Karma: 27
lets everyone stop drinking monster!
Oct 19 2009 2:25PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
I hate bullshit like this.
Oct 19 2009 2:28PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
Sorry for the dub post, but wouldn't Ben & Jerry's have a better claim against that seeing as they actually sell a product called "The Vermonster"?  Fuck this shit.
Oct 19 2009 2:29PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
yeah but in turn the popularity can be affected by changing the name so some customers might not know what it is anymore.

however i would find it hilarious if one of monsters competitors like red bull gave them financial backing. how funny would that be?
Oct 19 2009 2:31PM
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freelowda
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 1,583
Yes, that would be the easiest and cheapest way out. But to use your words, why change the course of your business over a "really stupid infringement claim". Sometimes you have to stick up for yourself with this kind of shit, and I'm glad that Rock Art is taking this stance.
Oct 19 2009 2:35PM
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eheath
Posts: 61107 - Karma: 118,279
Word never buying monster ever again.
Oct 19 2009 2:49PM
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.travis.
Posts: 1737 - Karma: 46

Has anyone sent an e-mail to Monster, kind of like what was done with sponcers of WME? Someone should post the link to e-mail them and let them know that they are losing the business of a large amount of the ski community. I don't know how effective this would be but it couldn't hurt right?

Oct 19 2009 3:01PM
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mnjib
Posts: 5592 - Karma: 357
I'm with you there.
Oct 19 2009 4:46PM
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steezeeepolizeee
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 796
i don't think i have seen so many ppl in one thread use the term frivolous before. Expand your vocabulary from that of the OP's.

But ya this is pretty redic not going to lie, they should just change it to "vermonster bull" :P
Oct 19 2009 4:51PM
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Commonwealth
Posts: 3729 - Karma: 11
this, and to be honest this is GREAT advertising for Rock Art. It was picked up by the Washington Post I think, and a Tampa Bay newspaper. This is better advertisement than Rock Art's ever had.
Oct 19 2009 5:48PM
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Hubsta
Posts: 1279 - Karma: 156
To be honest Monster don't have much ammunition to use on this one. The only way they would win a case such as this would be if there was clear intention that the other brand are attempting to market via their brand. (Which I 99% doubt) I mean just look at the Mc Curry VS MC Donalds lawsuit a while back, Mc Donalds lost.
Oct 19 2009 5:51PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
While 100% accurate, I'm sure that Hansen Beverages is fully aware of this as well.

They can however strong-arm Rock Art into either changing the name or flat out putting them out of business by financially wrecking them with costly appeals.

Hansen/Monster needs to feel the heat from consumers for this to disappear without Rock Art having to change the name of their beer.
Oct 19 2009 7:07PM
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freelowda
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 1,583
It appears than it was settled (with a good result for Rock Art)- very pleased by the fact that they stuck to their guns and at it paid off!

Oct 22 2009 5:08PM
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freelowda
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 1,583
http://consumerist.com/5387529/brewery-owner-stares-down-whups-monster-in-his-closet
Oct 22 2009 5:10PM
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Kmania
Posts: 756 - Karma: 79
good for them. chock this up as a victory for the little guy
Oct 22 2009 5:17PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
nice!!!!!!!!!
Oct 22 2009 5:17PM
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Delphi
Posts: 3748 - Karma: 36
I, for one, don't care. It's easy to demonize the corporate guys, but grow up. There is no injustice here.
Oct 22 2009 5:22PM
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ski@jaypeak2
Posts: 2800 - Karma: 394
Then dont post, there are plenty of other threads
Oct 22 2009 5:26PM
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B-Wald
Posts: 8113 - Karma: 96
They're in different markets, as was established by the settlement. Monster was stupid for starting this in the first place unless they were just trying to define some possible boundaries to their territory. From the sounds of it, they must've forgotten that monster was a normal word before they came around. I really don't understand what you're trying to say.
Oct 22 2009 5:41PM
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KarmaInitiative
Posts: 2028 - Karma: 174
yes... there is. rock art is in no way trying to infringe on monster, their beers not even called monster, its vermonster. there is absolutely no way this is nessicary.

this is the wme/level1 of the beverage business (jk)
Oct 22 2009 6:33PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Seriously?

So you think a corporate giant filing a lawsuit against a small scale company in a different product market with a differing name is just?

Click for larger image
Oct 26 2009 9:44AM
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PagesHouse
Posts: 6024 - Karma: 104
<3 Rock Art
Oct 26 2009 10:02AM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
yup
Oct 26 2009 10:36AM
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daytripper67
Posts: 681 - Karma: 11
haha dude i bet i could guess your views on any subject in the world. you have a one track mind
Oct 26 2009 11:10AM
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