Recently, the case “The Beer Cafe Wins Legal Battle: ‘Be The Beer’ Trademark Removed from Official Register” is in the news. The Beer cafes are so popular and a well-known chain of beer bars in India.
They fought for the trademark “To The Beer” removed from the official register. This case tells us about how to protect intellectual property rights and maintain fair practices in the world of business. Here, you will see how they won the battle in simple terms.
What Is The Background Of The Beer Cafe?
One of India’s leading beer chains, the Beer Cafe induces a wide range of beers from around the world. They are not only introducing beers or you can say drinks, but also a soothing atmosphere for socializing and entertainment.
As usual, a big brand needs protection against their brand and of course, it is their priority to protect them. If someone similarly uses their brand it might harm their goodwill, business, and customer loyalty. So, for them, it is important to win this case. Before moving forward in this case, let’s discuss what is a trademark.
Trademark – What Is It?
Trademark is what? It is a work, name, logo, and special symbol that helps people to identify your product or services. Due to these your company come apart from others and serves by that name all over the world. If your company is already registered for the trademark then no one can use their unique names or logos.
What Are The Disputes?
A legal issue started when another company registered the trademark “Be The Beer”. As both the names show too much similarity, due to this consumers get confused. The Beer Cafe then argued to protect its reputation and to avoid confusion among customers. For them, customers are on top priority and they can’t take a single chance to mislead them. Therefore, they think of fighting and “The Beer Cafe Wins Legal Battle: ‘Be The Beer’ Trademark Removed from Official Register”.
What Was The Legal Process?
When the Beer Cafe filed a case with the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB). Then the board started settling down all the disputes related to trademarks in India. The reason for the argument was that the name “Be The Beer” was too similar to their brand and may harm their business and reputation. In this case, a company challenges someone else’s trademark because they believe it is unfair or harmful to their own business.
Let’s Focus On The Arguments – In Detail
1. The standpoint of Beer Cafe’s-
○The phrase “Be The Beer” sounded similar to their brand name.
○It could confuse customers and harm the business by thinking twice that these are interrelated.
○Confusion could harm their reputation and brand value.
2. The defence from the Other Party –
○The name was registered as “Be The Beer”, they argued that its trademark was unique and could not harm The Beer Cafe’s brand.
○They claimed that their target audience and business deals all were different.
In this case “The Beer Cafe Wins Legal Battle: ‘Be The Beer’ Trademark Removed from Official Register” both equally present their point of view. Now, Let’s see what is the end result.
What Was The Result?
After presenting all the evidence and arguments, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board are in favour of The Beer Cafe. The decision is difficult and the board has to face so many challenges. Let’s check out some key points – why this decision had been taken.
●Similarity – The board found that the “Be The Beer” name was too similar to The Beer Cafe’s brand identity to confuse the consumers.
●Consumer Interest – To protect the customers from misleading branding is a top priority for the Beer cafe. Then the board agreed that customers might think by mistake that “Be The Beer” is associated with The Beer Cafe.
●Brand Protection – The rule of a trademark is that everyone has the right to protect their brand identity and the trust of customers. The result of the trademark was that the “Be The Beer” was officially removed from the register.
Conclusion
It is the milestone for the Beer Cafe is the removal of the “Be The Beer” trademark from the official register. This case “The Beer Cafe Wins Legal Battle: ‘Be The Beer’ Trademark Removed from Official Register” shows the importance of protecting brand identity.
All business owners have a fair chance to protect their brand identity in this competitive world. It is amazing to stand up for the right thing which can lead to a positive outcome. It is not for a single company but for the entire industry.
As a team, we have professionals who take care of all your problems related to trademarks. For them, you are their priority and they handle all your situation. They also guarantee you it could not harm your business and reputation.