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Two Midwest breweries enter legal fight over name “Ope”
Ope! A pair of breweries are headed to the courthouse to determine who owns this Midwestern trademark.
MINOCQUA, Wis. — It’s a battle over beer in Wisconsin as two independent breweries enter a legal fight over the use of a time-honored Midwestern saying.
Two Wisconsin businesses are involved in the fight: OPE! Brewing in West Allis and Minocqua Brewing Co. OPE! filed a lawsuit against Minocqua Brewing Co. after it launched a beer called “OPE: A Lager with Big Dad Energy” in honor of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s vice presidential run.
Both businesses recently took to social media to explain their sides of the story.
Minocqua Brewing Co. posted first on Facebook, saying they got a call from OPE! Brewing after releasing the beer saying they stole the company’s trademarked name. The post stated that the two tried to collaborate for a solution – OPE! offered splitting the profits evenly while Minocqua offered 5% of the profit – but they couldn’t reach a compromise.
Minocqua Brewing Co. went ahead with selling the beer and OPE! sued their rival for trademark infringement.
In a Facebook post, OPE! Brewing shared its side of the story, saying they asked Minocqua Brewing Co. to rebrand as soon as the beer was announced for presale. The company shared that they own the trademark “Ope” in Wisconsin as related to beverages, beer, liquor, wine and food service.
“We did not rush to the Courthouse without warning; it was only after Minocqua Brewing refused to respect our trademark after multiple requests, that we filed our lawsuit,” Ope! Brewing’s Facebook post read.
The post went on to request that commenters be kind and not tear down either independent brewery.
Since then, Minocqua Brewing Co. has relabeled the controversial beer as “Big Dad Energy: A Vice Presidential Lager.” The remaining cans labeled “OPE” were sold on the brewery’s website, according to the Facebook post.
The next time the two brewing companies will be in court is Oct. 1 for a scheduling conference.
Meet Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader and the Dark Lord of the Sith, Emperor Palpatine!
MINNEAPOLIS — Get ready for a weekend celebration of comics and pop culture, including TV, film, cosplay, gaming, and anime.
The fourth annual Twin Cities Con returns to the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Fans of all ages are invited to join the fun and meet dozens of internationally known TV and movie actors, wrestlers, anime voice actors, comic creators, and other entertainers.
Some of the celebrities include Star Wars legends Ian McDiarmid and Hayden Christensen; Grant Gustin from The Flash; La Bamba star Lou Diamond Phillips; The voice of Spongebob Squarepants, Tom Kenny; Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong from Boy Meets World; Brooklyn 99’s Stephanie Beatriz; Hall of Fame wrestler Sting; Diane Guerrero from Orange Is the New Black and Doom Patrol.
WHERE: Minneapolis Convention Center
TICKETS: Weekend Pass – $70
INFO: For a complete list of celebrities, events, exhibitors, and more, please visit twincitiescon.com.
FashionFest is a night to sip, shop and support M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital.
MINNEAPOLIS — This year’s annual fundraiser for the M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, FashionFest, is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 15 at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel – The Depot.
The walk-around wine and food-tasting event includes shopping from curated boutiques and enjoying an exceptional fashion show featuring Twin Cities celebrities.
In the past 11 years, FashionFest has raised over $3.5 million to help provide pediatric services, programming and activities for young patients and their families.
U.S. News and World Report ranks Masonic Children’s Hospital among the top children’s hospitals in the U.S. for the 15th year in a row.
Executive chef Rob Lang stopped by KARE 11 Saturday to talk about the annual dinner.
MINNEAPOLIS — Ever eaten elk or alligator? How about ostrich or kangaroo?
Those are just some of the exotic meats on the menu at Jax Cafe for their annual Hunter’s Dinner next week.
The dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12 and tickets are $145 per person.
Executive Chef Rob Lang stopped by KARE 11 Saturday to talk about the annual dinner.
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1 monkey recovered safely, 42 others still remain on the run from South Carolina lab
American nurse killed in Budapest while on vacation, Hungarian police arrest suspect