All I can say is that I'm glad I don't drink Red Bull

[T_i_B]

I can't touch the stuff as it makes me go all hyper. However, if I could drink the stuff I'd feel a boycott of Red Bull coming on over this.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/red_bull_in_war_with_norwich_s_redwell_brewing_over_name_1_2334168#.UgtgR6bppCw.facebook

One is the world-wide market leader in energy drinks and employs nearly 9,000 people.

The other is a small brewery on the outskirts of Norwich that employs eight people.

But Red Bull, from its headquarters in Austria, has written to Redwell Brewing, based at The Arches in Bracondale, near County Hall, requesting it to immediately withdraw its trademark application, because it claims the names are too similar and would confuse consumers. In the letter, Red Bull’s brand enforcement manager, Hansjorg Jeserznik, says Redwell’s application “comprises Red Bull’s earlier trademark ‘red’ as a whole, which is a prima facie for the similarity of signs.

“Moreover, all trademarks consist solely of English words and contain the common element ‘red’. The term ‘well’ is merely descriptive and therefore of no distinctive character at all.

[JHB]

1. Tell me again about "frivolous" lawsuits (or trademark "defense" in this case)...

Does Redwell ship to the US?

[T_i_B]

3. Almost certainly not

Their beers aren't seen much outside of East Anglia to be honest.

That said, their beer is much nicer then Red Bull, which does taste of designer vomit. Maybe the publicity Red Bull's daft lawyers are giving them will result in a bit of overseas demand?

[JHB]

4. Well, something to keep in mind if I'm ever in East Anglia, then.

I've tasted Red Bull (free sample they were passing out at some event I attended), and I saw no reason to continue to the bottom of the can, much less purchase any.

[Warpy]

7. Nearly all US major brand beers are carbonated cat piss

The exception was a porter that Narragansett used to make. Again, it was a regional thing, not seen much outside New England.

That's why people are desperate to know what's being imported.

I've seen Norwich Bitters in packies that specialize in offshore beers, never Redwell.

[Scuba]

2. "Well" is descriptive, but "red" is not?

Lawyers!

[dipsydoodle]

5. I am not aware of Red Bull being available in glass bottles

in which I'm guessing they will told to piss off anyway.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. I don't think Red Bull will have a leg to stand on

It's named after Redwell Street, where the pub part-owned by the brewery owners sells the beer.

A similar case ended up with the multinational backing down:

An American fast food giant has backed down in a row with a North Yorkshire country inn amid claims the pub is using one of its trademark phrases.

The Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in England, had been told by Kentucky Fried Chicken to remove the words "family feast" from its menu.

KFC's lawyers said the company had registered the wording as a trademark.

But hours later the American firm's lawyers decided not to pursue the issue of the pub's meal description.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/6644177.stm

[dipsydoodle]

8. Thought something like that could be the case.

Redwell Street. I hadn't thought of that - thought it might directors names.

I recall MS suing a guy in Scotland who had a website named MikeRoweSoftware. Judge threw the case out because the guy's name really was Mike Rowe saying only an idiot could confuse his company with MS.

[T_i_B]

9. There's also a fair bit of negative publicity for Red Bull

My Twitterfeed has been full of beer geeks being rude about Red Bull all day and the story has gone a bit beyond the East Anglian press now.

The longer they prolong this the bigger PR disaster it will be for Red Bull. Not to mention that there have been 1 or 2 pubs pulling Red Bull from sale in protest over this.