Legal Opinion
G. Heileman Brewing Company, Inc., and Miller Brewing Company, Cross-Appellants v. Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Cross-Appellee
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Decided April 26, 1989No. 88-1223, 88-1309 and 88-1310PublishedCited by 102 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
CUDAHY, Circuit Judge.
Defendant-appellant Anheuser-Busch, Incorporated (“Busch”) appeals a judgment declaring that “LA” is not a protectible trademark for a low alcohol beer introduced by Busch in 1984. The district court found that the initials LA are merely descriptive of low alcohol beer and have not acquired secondary meaning. Accordingly, the district court concluded that the use of LA (or “L.A.”) by G. Heileman Brewing Company (“Heileman”) and Miller Brewing Company (“Miller”) on their own low alcohol beer labels does not constitute trademark infringement or unfair competition. Heileman…
2Cases cited46 opinions
- Anderson v. City of Bessemer CitySupreme Court of the United States · 1985
- United States v. United States Gypsum Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1948
- Wooley v. MaynardSupreme Court of the United States · 1977
- SAMUELS Et Al. v. MACKELL, DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF QUEENS COUNTY, Et Al.Supreme Court of the United States · 1971
- Surowitz v. Hilton Hotels Corp.Supreme Court of the United States · 1966
41 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by102 opinions
- Ty, Inc. v. The Jones Group, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2001
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Cross-Appellant v. mcneil-p.p.c., Inc., Cross-AppelleeCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1992
- Star Industries, Inc. v. Bacardi & Company Limited, Bacardi U.S.A., and Anheuser-Busch, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 2005
- Sands, Taylor & Wood Company v. The Quaker Oats CompanyCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1992
- Genesee Brewing Company, Inc., D/B/A Highfalls Brewing Company v. Stroh Brewing Company, D/B/A Northern Plains Brewing CompanyCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1997
97 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.