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Mini mart sued by Buc-ee's receives support with merch
USA Today • • business
Key Points:
- Cincy Shirts, a Cincinnati apparel company, is supporting Beaver's Mini Mart, a small Ohio corner store facing a trademark lawsuit from gas station chain Buc-ee's, by selling t-shirts and hats that fund the mini mart's legal defense.
- Buc-ee's alleges that Beaver's Mini Mart's beaver logo could confuse customers, despite the mini mart having no gas pumps and being located far from the interstate; the mini mart has operated for over a decade, predating Buc-ee's Ohio expansion.
- Buc-ee's has a history of filing lawsuits against small businesses with animal mascots, claiming trademark infringement, including cases against Barc-ee's in Missouri and Super Fuels in Texas.
- Comedian John Oliver criticized Buc-ee's aggressive legal tactics on his show "Last Week Tonight," challenging the company to sue him and HBO over a parody mascot, with proceeds from related merchandise benefiting a hunger relief nonprofit.
- Buc-ee's has not responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing lawsuit against Beaver's Mini Mart or Oliver's public challenge.
