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This is old, but interesting.


Coors vs. Coir's

When Robert Corr of Chicago began making natural-flavor sodas in 1978, he decided that his family name would have a familiar ring to Windy City buyers. His great-uncle Frank was a mayor of Chicago in the 1930s and founder of a football team called the Corr Flashes. But by putting the trademark Corr's on bottles and cans, the soda maker uncapped the rivalry of another proud name: Coors.

The Golden, Colo., brewer showed little concern about the sound-alike name until last year, when Corr's started showing up in grocery stores in 50 states. The beer company sued in a Denver federal court, demanding that Corr's change its name. Coors claimed that the tiny soda maker was trying to trade on the brewer's identity. As evidence, it cited one of Corr's slogans, "Made with pure Rocky Mountain water," which barely differs from the beer company's famous motto.

When the two sides met in court last week, Judge Sherman Finesilver asked them to try to work it out themselves. But the talks may resemble a family feud. Said Corr: "This is a basic principle, and I'm prepared to fight for it."


Pete