Dive Summary:
- Vermont Hard Cider Co. is suing Woodchuck Coffee Roasters, also based in Vermont, for trademark infringement over the "woodchuck" name.
- In the U.S. District Court complaint, Vermont Hard Cider Co. says that, since 1991, it has invested a considerable amount of money to build brand awareness for Woodchuck Hard Cider, and that it is now the nation's best-selling brand of hard cider.
- The company also alleges that Woodhuck Coffee Roasters' logo is "strikingly similar" to its hard cider label, but the coffee company's co-owner, Tony Basiliere, says its name and logo weren't intended to imitate the cider company.
From the article:
... The company says Woodchuck Coffee Roasters' coffee logo is "strikingly similar" to its hard cider label, with an oval logo with a woodchuck sitting on its haunches. The logo and name are creating confusion and have led to Vermont residents asking if the cider company has gone into the coffee business, the suit says. ...
