Muskoka Brewery launches lawsuit against Molson Coors

Bracebridge, Ont. — Muskoka Brewery announced that it has issued a claim in the Federal Court of Canada against Molson Coors Canada and Molson Canada 2005. Muskoka Brewery is seeking relief for trade-mark infringement, depreciation of goodwill and passing off.

On or about June 22, 2019, Molson Coors Canada and Molson Canada 2005 launched a campaign for a free Muskoka chair t-shirt in cases of Molson Canadian lager using an image that is alleged to infringe the Muskoka Brewery’s trademarks. Muskoka Brewery asserts that its iconic chair logo is highly recognizable and has become synonymous with all the brewery stands for.

Todd Lewin, president of Muskoka Brewery, stated that Muskoka Brewery took legal action against Molson Coors because “We are proud of what we have built here in Muskoka and we need to protect what is ours. Our beer triggers real memories of enjoying a local brew sitting in a Muskoka chair on the dock. We don’t want beer drinkers to be confused on what beer they are buying and that we are somehow associated with a big multinational brewery.”