Columbus Brewing Company legal battle erupts

Apparently this town ain’t big enough for two Columbus Brewing Companies.

Craft brewer Columbus Brewing Company is perhaps best known for its superb takes on pale ales and IPAs, but did you know that the Columbus Brewing Company Restaurant is not actually affiliated with the brewery?

In spite of the shared name, the two businesses have completely different owners.

The craft brewer, legally named District Brewing, owns the trademark to the Columbus Brewing Company name, and was founded in 1988.

In 1997, owner Jeff Edwards allowed Cameron Mitchell to open up a restaurant attached to the brewery–the Columbus Brewing Company Restaurant.

Both businesses have since changed owners, and after 20 years of peacefully living together, the brewery filed a lawsuit against the restaurant asking it to change its name.

The new owner of the brewery, Eric Bean, is also asking the restaurant to stop using the CBC logo, and to change its domain name from www.columbusbrewingco.com to something else.

Notably, when you Google “Columbus Brewing Company,” the first result that comes up is the restaurant, not the brewery.

The suit went through federal court, where the court told the two businesses to reach a settlement. Negotiations are ongoing.

As for the ultimate outcome of the case, it’s tough to say what will happen due to the two companies’ intertwined histories and the recent growth of the craft beer industry.

 

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