Businesses work hard to make their products and brands recognizable to consumers. They may trademark names, slogans and images to ensure that those details are used only by their companies. As a result, confusion and damage to business could occur if another company infringes on that intellectual property, and businesses may need to take legal action to protect their brands.
Texas readers may be interested in a lawsuit recently filed by clothing company Patagonia. According to reports, the company has filed suit against Anheuser-Busch because the beverage company has started selling a beer called Patagonia. The beverage’s look even bears a striking resemblance to the clothing company’s logo of a silhouette of a mountain and the word Patagonia. Patagonia claims that Anheuser-Busch has gone to great lengths to make it seem like the clothing company is selling the product.
The company believes that Anheuser-Busch has committed trademark infringement by using the brand’s name and overall aesthetic. It also believes that there is an obvious attempt to confuse consumers. Anheuser-Busch made a statement indicating that they believe the claims to be meritless and intend to defend against them.
Intellectual property is immensely important to businesses, and when another company seems to be infringing on trademarked material, companies may need to take action. Creating confusion among consumers could easily result in a loss of sales and other damages that would need addressing. Texas business owners who have experienced similar violations may want to explore their legal options in efforts to put an end to any wrongdoing.