News -> INDReporter THU, MAR 3 10:17AM by Walter Pierce

Abita bullies bar benefactor

Louisiana pilsner purveyor Abita Brewing Company fired off a cease-and-desist letter to a charity organizer who had been using the term “pub crawl” to promote his events, according to Baton Rouge Business Report.

Abita, according to BRBR, says it owns the Louisiana trademark for the term and that Manu Kamat’s use of “pub crawl” is an infringement on the brewery’s rights. Kamat’s “pub crawls” generate money via fees from participants who receive discounts at Baton Rouge watering holes; the fee proceeds are donated to the New Orleans Council for Community and Justice.

Kamat has backed down; he’s now calling the event a “bar golf.” But, BRBR writes, he’s so far refusing to transfer control of the domain name pubcralbr.com to Abita.

Read more here.


Walter Pierce
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Comments (7)add
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written by Strawberry Abita Lover , March 03, 2011 - 11:28 am
Put the Strawberry Abita down!
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written by IHATEAHOLES , March 03, 2011 - 11:53 am
just because the beer is somewhat local doesn't mean it isn't overpriced swill. the uk should send them a c & d for use of the word 'pub' so maybe they can shut the hell up
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written by Brad Pecot , March 03, 2011 - 01:08 pm
Abita has changed their stance on this. Here is a release from them:

Dear Friends of Abita:

Over the years thousands of you have attended amazing moveable parties known as Pub Crawls. It’s no small feat to put together events of this size and caliber. Our standards are high and we put a great deal of time, thought and effort into making Abita Pub Crawls well-run, fun events for you.

In the 1990s big corporate breweries began trying to mimic craft beers and take over the types of events smaller breweries like us had created. To protect the Pub Crawl for our fans we trademarked the name of the event in Louisiana only. Our intent was to prevent any confusion and to stop the big breweries from copying our success. Over the years, we’ve sent out letters asking others not to use the name Pub Crawl unless it is an Abita sponsored event.

We’ve heard from you today on this trademark issue and we agree. Your respect is far more important to us than two little words.

This morning we reached out to the New Orleans Council for Community and Justice and let them know we’ve changed our mind and our position on the trademark issue. We have offered and they have accepted our support of their next event, scheduled for March 25. Abita is proud of our history of charitable giving to our community through our fundraising brews and our commitment to non-profit organizations.

You may see more Pub Crawls in the future. Some of them may not be sponsored by Abita, but we’re confident you’ll recognize the original when you see it and have a great time.

Thank you for your support of Abita Beer.

Cheers.

David Blossman
President
Abita Beer
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written by Cajun Yodeler , March 03, 2011 - 01:22 pm
There needs to be law! Outrageous!
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written by Strawberry Abita Lover , March 03, 2011 - 02:04 pm
Some things just make life better. Abita is one of those.
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written by Curtis Payne , March 10, 2011 - 11:29 pm
I think the trademark rules should be changed all over the place, not just in louisiana. To trademark simple words we use everyday is utterly ridiculous. I believe the proper thing would be to trademark a company name. This would make it more clear a non-company person couldn't use the company name without explicit permission. Two examples to support this: 1.) Abita beer crawl, 2.) Paris Hilton and 'That's hot.' Ridiculous business and behavior from people.
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written by Curtis Payne , March 10, 2011 - 11:39 pm
2nd Point...When does a federal trademark supersede a state trademark? The term pub crawl is actually registered with the federal government through the United States Patent and Trademark Office by HappyHourNights I, L.P. in Houston Texas. Abita is laughable. I'm no legal beagle, so I can't guess which would hold up in court. On the same page, whatever happened to that legal case of the guy who trademarked "Who Dat" and all of the retailers/the New Orleans Saints/and the NFL?
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