Disney-owned Lucasfilms has struck a lawsuit on a small New York brewing company for its bock lager, “Strikes Bock,” for allegedly infringing on the Star Wars trademark.
Empire Brewing Co. reportedly applied for a trademark on its German malt and hops lager named “Strikes Bock.” Lucasfilms opposed the brewing company’s trademark request, insisting the beer sounds too similar to the Star Wars film, “The Empire Strikes Back.” Lucasfilms claims that consumers will be swindled into believing the bock lager has an official association with the Star Wars franchise.
Empire Brewing has been serving “Strikes Bock” for the past seven years with no complaints from the Hollywood giant. It wasn’t until the brewing company decided to expand their brewery to Cazenovia, where it would join New York’s largest brewing companies. The expansion led the company to apply for a trademark to protect their popular German bock lager.
“It’s kind of a ‘big dog against small dog’ thing,” he said. “We’ve had this beer for seven years, and we did this [sought a trademark] because we don’t want to infringe on any other beers or anyone else’s trademarks,” said Empire Brewing owner David Katleski.
A major concern of Lucasfilm is the confusion consumers could have between the Empire Brewing’s beer and Lucasfilms’ award-winning wine. Lucasfilms owns a California vineyard called SkyWalker Vineyard, where it produces a Star Wars-themed wine.
“The fact that consumers have been exposed to and accustomed to seeing Lucasfilm’s STAR WARS Film Franchise marks in connection with food and beverages, including wine, increases the already existing likelihood of confusion,” the Lucasfilms complaint says.
Katleski believes Lucasfilm doesn’t have a trademark that conflicts with his. But, he said, his brewery doesn’t have the financial ability to wage a long-term legal battle against the Hollywood giant.