Laughing Buddha Changing its Name

In the music business they say that you know you’ve hit the big time when Weird Al Yankovic does a parody of one of your songs. Along the same lines, it was announced today that the brewery formerly known as Laughing Buddha will change its name to Trade Route Brewing. I suppose you could say this means they’ve hit the big time.

We recieved the following press release this afternoon.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2009
 
SEATTLE MICROBREWERY RESOLVES TRADEMARK DISPUTE WITH AUSTRALIAN BREWERY
Laughing Buddha Brewing Company Will Change Its Name
 
SEATTLE, WA – Laughing Buddha, a Seattle-based craft microbrewery, has resolved a trademark dispute with an Australian brewer that packages beer in Buddha-shaped bottles. To resolve the dispute, Laughing Buddha Brewing Company will operate as Trade Route Brewing Company starting April 1, 2009.
 
Smouha Fabrics, owner of Lucky Drink Company of Australia, sent a letter to the Seattle microbrewery in May 2008 objecting the use of Laughing Buddha’s name, citing US trademark registrations for their Buddha-bottle design and the name “Lucky Buddha.”
 
“We didn’t feel that we were infringing on their trademark,” says Chris Castillo, co-owner of Laughing Buddha Brewing Company. “Smouha is a big corporation and we couldn’t afford to go through the litigation process.”
 
Laughing Buddha Brewing Company began selling their line of beers to restaurants, pubs, and stores in late 2007. They brew a brown ale with pandan leaves, a hefeweizen with mangoes, and a pale ale with ginger.
 
“We’re experimenting with many ingredients from ancient trade routes,” says Castillo. “Trade Route Brewing Company will be a better fitting name for us.”

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