“Score one for true independent craft beer today as the #TrueStonevsKeystone lawsuit continues.”
That was the response Stone Brewing put out after a federal judge denied Stone’s motion for a preliminary injunction and an attempt to dismiss MillerCoors’ counterclaims. The court’s decision halts Stone’s attempt to block sales of Keystone Light and opens a path for the lawsuit to move forward.
“On Tuesday, March 26, the Court issued its order regarding Stone’s preliminary injunction motion against one of the world’s largest beer conglomerates, MillerCoors. It confirmed ‘Stone’s mark to be commercially strong and recognizable,’ deserving of ‘strong protection,’ said the Stone statement.
The Stone statement went on to say, “What does this positive ruling mean for Stone and craft beer? It means that MillerCoors’ Keystone cans are likely to confuse consumers, infringe on Stone’s trademark, and will likely be forced to undergo a rebrand after the case goes to trial. In short, Stone is that much closer to protecting its good name, reputation and brand integrity.”
Stone Brewing filed the lawsuit against MillerCoors over a year ago, claiming that the MillerCoors Keystone Light brand infringed on their “Stone” trademark.
Stone Brewing saw this as a positive, saying that “while the Court did not order a preliminary injunction, it found that the issue was one for trial, where Stone looks forward to presenting evidence of the significant impact that MillerCoors’ campaign has had on the craft brewery – and the massive sales which Keystone has accumulated since reviving itself using Stone’s trademark.”