Colombian brewers fight to keep Simpsons beer

Colombian brewers have been in a legal battle with 20th Century Fox, saying the “Duff” brand cannot belong to the News Corporation subsidary as it only appears “in a fictional world,” reported French news agency AFP on Tuesday.

The brewers originally named the beer “Duff Beer” after the preferred drink of cartoon character Homer Simpson, and then were forced to change the name to “DuH Beer” after being sued by 20th Century Fox, stylizing the capital H to look like a double f as can be seen on the website.

Brothers Alvaro and Oscar Ballesteros founded Duff Sudamerica in Bogota in 2007, registering the trademark the following year. The brothers then began to sell their beer to bars in Colombia’s capital in 2009, and now produce 24,000 units a month.
Fans of the show have been thrilled that they don’t have to be in Moe’s Tavern to enjoy a bottle of the microbrewed Golden Ale with no additives. According to Oscar, the beverage is available in Colombia, Brazil and Chile for costs between $4 and $6. However, Fox attorneys have been fighting to change that availability.

“The fact that 20th Century Fox does not have such a product in the market does not mean they can take advantage of a brand,” said Alicia Lloreda, a Colombian attorney with 20th Century Fox.

Colombian government regulators ruled in August that the brothers cease production, distribution and sales of the beer in Colombia.

Duff Sudamerica attorney Santiago Mora is set to appeal the decision. “We are not going to let ourselves be frightened by a multinational,” said Mora.

Alvaro Ballesteros has insisted that they are not infringing on 20th Century Fox’s brand, “simply because in reality they do not have it. It appears only in cartoons, in a fictional world,” he said.

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