Guns N’ Roses has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Oskar Blues Brewery (owned by Canarchy Craft Brewery Collective) for their craft beer aptly named, Guns ‘N’ Rosé.
The lawsuit states Oskar Blues brewery has been selling one of their craft beers and merchandise (including hats, t-shirts, pint glasses, stickers, buttons and bandannas) under the name Guns ‘N’ Rosé since 2018 but Guns N’ Roses say they registered the name Guns N’ Roses back in the 1990s to cover a broad range of goods and services and that Oskar Blues’ use of Guns ‘N’ Rosé is damaging to the band’s “trademarks, business reputation and goodwill.”
According to legal documents, a representative for the band met with the brewery’s CEO in late 2018 to try and come to an agreement but the brewery ended up rejecting the band’s claim. An exchange of letters followed with Oskar Blues’ counsel stating, “Our client’s use of GUNS ‘N’ ROSÉ for beer does not infringe GNR’s marks. GNR does not own a trademark registration for GUNS N’ ROSES for beer or any alcohol beverages. GNR has not made any use of the mark GUNS N’ ROSES in connection with alcohol beverages. It thus has no rights to the mark in connection with beer or other alcohol beverages.”
However, they then offered to help resolve the issue before it goes to litigation by agreeing to withdraw the brewery’s application to register Guns N Rosé with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, permanently cease all sales and marketing of Guns N Rosé beer and merchandise on or before March 31, 2020, and not to use any marks incorporating Guns N Rosé or Guns N’ Roses in the future.
We aren’t sure what will happen at this point but we did learn something very important today, don’t mess with GNR, it sounds like they’ve been going to the KISS school of business.
[h/t denverpost]
