Red Bull has threatened a small gin maker with legal action over the use of the word ‘bull’, reports have revealed.
Based in Norwich, Bullards has been creating artisanal beers, wines and spirits since it was founded by Harry Bullard in 1837.
But the global drinks giant said there was a “likelihood of confusion on behalf of the public” if the distillery were to produce soft drinks as both brands included the word “bull”.
Bullards – who described the claim as “ludicrous” – said it will fight the case.
It comes after Red Bull opposed an application to register the trade mark ‘Bullards’ with the UK Intellectual Property Office. The trade mark would enable the firm to create a range of ‘Bullards’ branded goods and services, such as events, energy drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages.
In a statement, the Austria-based energy drinks company said it was “prepared to resolve this dispute” if Bullards deleted the trade mark application and registration.
“Our client recognises that your client’s brand stems from a historical family business and so it has asked us to highlight that it does not want to prevent your client from doing anything it has historically done,” said lawyers on behalf of Red Bull.
The firm added that it will not stop the distillery from using the ‘Bullards’ brand for its gin.
But Bullards – taken over by national brewery Watneys in 1963 and relaunched in 2015 – said it was prepared to take the case to court.
“There is no confusion whatsoever and actually if we did concede we would be admitting there was,” said Russel Evans, of Bullards.
“They’re saying we can’t do events, we can’t do soft drinks, which we are going to do because we’re going to do tonics, we can’t do energy drinks – not that we would ever want to do energy drinks.
“If needs be we’ll go to court and let’s see what a court of law has to say on it.”
The artisanal drinks maker added that it would cost “thousands of pounds” to remove the goods and services listed in the letter.
The case continues.
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