I was recently interviewed in a podcast by Ria Windcaller of Cider Chat. We had a one-hour discussion on cider law, obtaining permits with TTB, labeling, advertising, social media, and various other topics that impact the cider community. It was a great experience, and the chat is available to listen…
Category: Federal Law
Texas Proposes to Change State Wine Law Regarding Appellations of Origin
Recently, the state of Texas saw some interesting action with respect to wine and the law. House Bill 1514, sponsored by Rep. Jason Isaac, relating to the labeling of wine as originating from the state is causing a significant amount of concern among winemakers. The bill proposes to change the Texas Alcoholic…
On Reserve Trademark Special Through August 31, 2017
On Reserve is excited to announce an exclusive trademark package through Lehrman Beverage Law, PLLC. The package will extend to new clients and trademark registrations through August 31, 2017. For more information, please contact us at trademarks@bevlaw.com or via phone at 202-449-3739 ext. 4. Please mention On Reserve Special 2017.
Wine Law Trademark Series Part 1: Registrability of Marks
This blog article is the first in a series called “Wine Law Trademark Series” which aims to help industry members understand general trademark concepts. Wineries often look to common law to protect their marks and intellectual property. This can be a feasible solution if the winery remains small and if…
Contemporary Wine Law Issues
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TTB Issues Temporary Rule Modifying Federal Regulations for Hard Cider
On January 23, 2017, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a temporary rule (T.D. TTB–147) in the Federal Register that amends the federal regulations for hard cider. The temporary rule amends TTB regulations to implement changes made to the federal definition of “hard cider” in the Internal…
Submitting a Petition for a New Grape Variety to TTB
Last year, I represented a client before the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) with respect to petitioning for the addition of a new grape variety for use as a variety on American wine labels. The grape variety, Loureiro, has been used on imported wines from Portugal and Spain….
Is There a Likelihood of Confusion between Tres Vidas and Dos Vidas for Tequila?
A recent application before the United States Patent and Trademark Office sought to register the mark Tres Vidas (with a tree) for tequila and tequila infused with vitmanis in International Class 33. See In re Tres Vidas Organic, Inc., Serial No. 86609789 (August 5, 2016) [not precedential]. The English translation is “three lives.” The…
Amending the TTB Basic Permit: Overview, Options, and Tips
You’ve finally gone through that grueling process of getting licensed on the TTB level and you have all your formulas and COLAs in hand. Production is taking off and business has been better than ever. While you’re glad to see such great success, production space is limited and you are…
Upcoming CLE on Beer, Wine & Distilled Spirits Law with myLawCLE
On September 15, 2016 at 2:00 PM EST, I will be presenting a CLE on beer, wine, and distilled spirits law with my colleague John Messinger. The CLE, titled “Beer, Wine & Distilled Spirits Law: Federal Regulation 101″ will have a live broadcast and will also be available on demand. A…
Is Home Brewing Co. Merely Descriptive of Beer?
Recently, an application before the United States Patent and Trademark Office sought to register the mark Home Brewing Co. in standard characters on the Principal Register for “Beer; Beer, ale and lager; Beer, ale and porter; Beer, ale, lager, stout and porter; Beer, ale, lager, stout, porter, shandy; Beers; Black beer; Brewed malt-based…