De Molen has changed their Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout name to:
Disputin Russian Imperial Stout due to a dispute with North Coast. Follow what STLHops readers are saying.
De Molen apparently was forced to change their name and packaging....
This is written on the front label of De Molen Disputin
"This stout used to be called Rasputin, but the people who make a product with a similar name in California thought you were too dumb to tell the two products apart, and threatened to sue us for trademark infringement. Think about that when you're out looking for a way to spend your hard-earned beer money."
-- De Molen's new label
I can see that their could be some confusion espcecially with the coming of the North Coast Old Rasputin Anniversary in the cork finished bottles -- click here for a picture
Here is the old label (we still have some left, of the now collectible bottle) .
I have batch brewed on Feb 12, 2009 and bottled March 16, 2009 (480 bottles made)
We have De Molen "old label Rasputin" and other De Molen beers available online also
click here
2 comments:
In all fairness, North Coast reportedly contacted De Molen when they first heard De Molen was making a beer called Rasputin to inform them that Old Rasputin was trademarked in the United States. Reportedly, De Molen said this was fine, as they did not plan on ever exporting Rasputin to the United States. Once, then, they did begin exporting it, North Coast had to do something to protect their trademark.
I am also surprised that the TTB has allowed the featured text on a beer label.
Hi beersales314,
Not sure who told you North Coast contacted De Molen about this, but that isn't true at all. Nobody from North Coast contacted De Molen or Shelton Brothers about this until a letter from a law firm showed up talking about damages.
There isn't anything on that label that would cause the government to reject it, unless they don't like free speech. That being said, they were a bit slow in approving it.
Cheers
Matt Dinges
Shelton Brothers
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