E-Malt.com News article: USA, OR: Archimedes Brewing to change its name

Archimedes Brewing will change its name after its founders received a notice from renowned film director Francis Ford Coppola's California winery to halt use of the name, Oregon Live reported on July 15.

The group announced the upcoming change on July 15, noting in a Facebook post that a California winery said there was "confusion between our name and a wine they produce, despite existing trademark classes."

Justin Marble, one of the brewery's founders, verbally confirmed the letter was from Francis Ford Coppola Winery when reached by phone on July 16. He said in an email he wasn't comfortable sharing the letter because it was private, legal information.

Of the 20 active trademarks for "Archimedes" listed on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's database, one belongs to "L.P. Sentinel Corp. as General Partner and Francis Ford Coppola, trustee of the Coppola Family Trust."

Coppola started the eponymous winery in 2010 in Geyersville, California. Among its collection of wines is a line of red wines under the label Archimedes.

When asked about the letter, Susan Hollander, who is listed as the attorney of record on the database listing, declined to comment. She said she was unaware of the letter and could not comment on confidential matters.

The Leader has reached out to the public relations representative for Coppola's winery to confirm the letter's existence.

Marble said the group posted a survey on Monday night on its page to gather feedback on new names. Six hundred people have filled it out as of Tuesday, July 16 morning.

He added that the group hadn't realized there was a federal trademark on the name. They searched to see if there were any breweries under the same name, and when none turned up, they went forward with the homage to the Greek mathematician.

"We're trying to find something that's still somewhat applicable and relevant to our personalities," Marble said. "Something that's relevant to our area that could represent where we are in Forest Grove."

Possible names include Titanomachia, Athos, Erebus, Skyloss, Poor Sport, Faraday, Spark Gap, Boqs, Siatco, Diogenes, and U-62.

The brewery is in the process of obtaining a federal liquor license to sell its brews.

Marble said while the name change is a "hiccup" for the start-up, the survey will serve as a "proving ground for names that might work." The group will take those options and thoroughly check if the names coincide with trademarked names, he said.

"That [notice] came as a bit of a surprise, but we are going to work around it and be onto the next thing," Marble said.


18 July, 2014