Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Red Bull loses legal battle against gin maker with Bull in its name

Red Bull loses legal battle against gin maker with Bull in its name

The energy drink company challenged a small gin firm after it claimed the word 'bull' would create confusion

Bullards, a small gin maker, has won a legal battle against Red Bull after it claimed the "bull" in the name was too similar to its brand.

It received from energy drink giant challenging its application to register Bullards as a trademark.

The letter said that there was a "likelihood of confusion on behalf of the public" as both brand names "include the term bull".

It told the company to remove a collection of their goods and services from its trademark application and registration, including energy drinks, events and non-alcoholic beverages.

Russell Evans, of Bullards, said some people had advised him to do what Red Bull demanded because they have "deeper pockets than us".

Russell Evans is a direct descendant of the firm's founder


"But it just seemed wrong to just cave into the Goliaths so we decided to take a stance and I'm glad we did," he said.

The Intellectual Property Office has now dismised Red Bull's case.

"Bullards is not in any way a logical brand extension of Red Bull," the senior hearing officer at the UK Intellectual Property Office, Allan James wrote.

The beer and wine company was named after Richard Bullard and founded in 1837, before Watneys took over in 1963.

The Bullards name was reintroduced in 2015, as the company focused on gin.

Red Bull is an Austrian firm launched in 1987.

Mr Evans said he was "relieved" that the legal battle was over, adding: "It just begs the question as to why they think they can do things like this when all they did was start something that's now been thrown out, but it's cost me £30,000 to defend."

The Intellectual Property Office ruled in favour of the gin maker


He added that Bullards has no intention of making energy drinks, but Red Bull "also wanted us to not do soft drinks, which we do, and they also wanted us to stop doing events, which is ridiculous".

"My view was even though we don't want to do energy drinks, I didn't want to concede to them the fact that they had the right to do so and we didn't," he said.

The trademark attorney for Bullards, Luke Portnow, said: "We stood firm that Bullards and Red Bull are of such different trade, no amount of reputation in energy drinks was enough to prevent use and registration here.

"The ruling confirms the mere fact that because the two marks share a common element is not a proper basis on which to base a finding of indirect confusion", he added.

"It pains me that such unnecessarily aggressive - and expensive - enforcement practices continue in this field of law."

"It is legally and financially unfair on applicants to have to defend such actions, so you can only imagine how thoroughly thrilled I am for Russell and everyone behind the amazing Bullards brand."

George Bullard, a great-great-great-grandson of the brand's founder says: "We're thrilled with the hearing outcome and the continuity which it embodies".

Red Bull was approached for comment.

Last year, when news of the threat of legal action emerged, the company said in a published statement: "We do not believe it appropriate to comment on a current legal case."

This is not Red Bull's first attempt at a legal dispute against a Norwich company.

A similar case was put against Redwell Brewing in 2013 over the inclusion of 'Red' and the name ending in 'll', before Red Bull conceded saying there was 'no dispute'.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
More Than 150,000 Followers for a Fictional Character: The New Influencers Are AI Creations
EU Prepares for War
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
×