Bent Paddle Brewing in Duluth settles logo lawsuit

Disputed logos
Duluth's Bent Paddle, right, has stopped using this hiker logo that closely resembles that of Long Trail Brewing, left, which is based in Vermont.
Courtesy of U.S. District Court documents

Duluth-based Bent Paddle Brewing has settled a lawsuit alleging that a logo used on some of its beers infringed on the trademark of a Vermont-based brewery.

Long Trail Brewing alleged in a suit filed in August that the logo Bent Paddle's logo for their "trail series" showing a hiker with a walking stick was "virtually indistinguishable" from Long Trail's longtime logo.

Founded in 1989, Long Trail has owned the trademark including the logo since 1996. Bent Paddle was founded in May 2013.

As a result of the lawsuit, Bent Paddle stopped using the logo. Although no payments will be made to Long Trail Brewing, Bent Paddle will make a donation to the Green Mountain Club in Vermont and Long Trail will donate to the Superior Hiking Trail Association in Minnesota.

In a statement, Bent Paddle co-founder Laura Mullen said she hopes the settlement sets an example for how to resolve future disputes in the growing craft beer industry.

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