Monster Vs. Vermonster

Vermonster… hmmmm…. That name is very similar to the name of Monster's energy drinks. But is it similar enough for Monster to sue this man's company who has been brewing his Vermonster beer for 12 years? Apparently Monster energy drinks believes so.

Matt Nadeau of Vermont started his brewing company in his basement 12 years ago to fulfill his dream. His beer, one of which is called Vermonster, is now brewed in a brewery where he has 7 employees, not including himself and his wife. Life was good for him! Suddenly, on September 14, 2009, he received an email from the lawyer of Monster energy drinks in California saying that he must cease and desist his Vermonster beer. Monster felt threatened that Nadeau’s Vermonster had a name too similar to theirs. Nadeau called his lawyer and is now accepting the court case because he refuses to change the name of his already known beer.

With this case, Matt Nadeau points out a huge deficiency and flaw in the world of law. Basically there is Monster, a billion dollar corporation, and Nadeau's brewery, which has no where near that sum of money. The court case costs both the plaintiff and the defendant 65 thousand dollars. If Nadeau wins his case in the first round, Monster can have the case appealed. This pattern can happen over and over again. The issue is that if Nadeau can’t keep paying for Monster’s appeals, then he will lose the case by default. Monster has a ton of money and will intentionally keep appealing the case until Nadeau can’t afford the appeal in which Monster is victorious. All of a sudden this whole case becomes a competition of who has the most money, which is obviously Monster.

An issue like this immediatly makes me sympathize for Nadeau. Here you have a man whose dream is to own a brewery. He has been peacefully making popular beer for 12 years and all of a sudden a big billion dollar corporation steps in and is willing to use money to force Nadeau to change the name of his Vermonster beer. Monster definitely looks like the bad guy in this case. Nadeau has support from people all over the country. On top of this, websites have sprung up to support Vermonster as well. This support is what keeps him willing to fight the battle against corporate America. Will this be the case that changes the way the Court System rules?

Monster Vs. Vermonster

Video Courtesy of YouTube