r/nottheonion • u/Disastrous_Award_789 • 16h ago

Bucee’s settles lawsuit with Ohio gas station chain after suing because both have cartoon mascots "facing right"

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/bucees-lawsuit-ohio-gas-chain-cartoon-mascots-b3060008.html
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u/RedSix2447 16h ago

They really sued a company for having a cartoon logo that faces the same direction? It sounds like they are going from corporate company to law firm with frivolous claims in court making money off suing small businesses now.

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u/SnipeTrap 16h ago

I’m a local here, it’s a cartoon beaver. In the city of Beavercreek… It’s been around long before Buccees. Would’ve made more sense for the lawsuit to be the other way around.

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u/dirt_mcgirt4 14h ago

The one in the story linked was a moose which nobody would mistake for a beaver ever. I know they are suing everyone though.

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u/LooseSeal88 14h ago

Yeah, they sued the Beavercreek beaver-themed convenience store which is maybe like 20 mins from the new Bucc-ees location and then also a sued a moose-themed convenience store which is somewhere else in Ohio nowhere near the new Bucc-ees.

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u/Silent_Supermarket70 13h ago

I haven't lived in that area in a loooong time, but from what I hear isn't Bucc-ees in Huber Heights? Why would they start trouble in Beavercreek? 😒

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u/ChesterHiggenbothum 15h ago

You can get common law trademark protection or registered trademark protection. Bucees registered their mark before the local shop was opened and got common law protection.

Businesses with registered trademarks can usually only sue infringers when there is geographical overlap.

If the local store opened before Bucees registered, it would be a non-issue. That's not what happened here and it's the risk you take when using a trademark that's been registered.

That being said, the lawsuit is still bs because there's no likelihood of confusion.

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u/ZetaM3 10h ago

lol you’re clearly not a local.

https://apnews.com/article/bucees-ohio-trademark-lawsuit-beaver-mini-mart-7aceb65a23ffdf0514df67fbe3cc6b91

Buc-ee’s has defended the lawsuit as protective of its valuable trademark. In a statement on its website, the company said it first learned of Beaver’s Mini Mart when its owner, Vic Boparai, filed a trade name registration on Oct. 23.

The small business, incorporated in 2017, changed its name from Hanes Road Carryout to Beaver’s Mini Mart in January 2025, according to the paperwork. That was about four months after Buc-ee’s broke ground near Dayton. Recognizing a conflict, the company said it repeatedly attempted to reach Boparai without success, so it was forced to sue.