(Pawtucket, RI) – High Jinx Brewing Co. just sent out this note to BeerPulse on Wednesday. On the day before Thanksgiving, the brewery startup is announcing that it will change its name in order to avoid any trademark troubles. Though High Jinx doesn’t identify any potential conflicts by name, US Patent and Trademark Office filings show that Magic Hat Brewing Co. [disclosure: BeerPulse advertiser] has the word, “Jinx,” trademarked. A nanobrewery with the name, HiJinx Brewing, just launched on September 1st in Pennsylvania.
For High Jinx, this means re-designing and re-submitting labels (which the TTB has already approved) and starting a new Facebook page (last time we checked, Facebook doesn’t allow you to change the name of your page if you have more than 100 fans). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…
Read on below…
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Dear friends and beer lovers across Rhode Island,
Effective immediately, High Jinx Brewing Company of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, will be changing its business name to Foolproof Brewing Company. We have decided to change our name as a result of potential confusion in the marketplace with using the name “High Jinx” and possible trademark disputes that could result.
While changing our company name was a difficult decision, we believe it is prudent to take action now prior to opening our doors for business and avoid possibly having to change our name at a future date. With a growing number of trademark disputes occurring in the beer industry, we felt that we needed to do everything in our power to avoid being drawn into a costly and time-consuming legal battle. In other words, we had to find a “foolproof” name for our brewery. We did, and we couldn’t be happier about it.
Most importantly, this change will ultimately allow us to focus on what really matters – brewing great beer and growing our company. Over the course of the next couple weeks, we will be updating our website, marketing materials, and social media accounts to reflect the new name. Please accept our apologies for any confusion this causes, but know that our dedication to brewing unique and flavorful beers right here in Rhode Island remains our top priority.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for Foolproof’s beers, which will be available in liquor stores, bars, and restaurants throughout Rhode Island by the end of the year!
Now all they have to worry about is Weyerbacher defending its trademark re: the jester hat!
Interesting…. There is also a High Jinx Brewery in Pennsylvania. Wonder if they will change their name
I was attending the Philly Craft Beer Festival two years ago when I met the HiJinx gang while they were still a group of home brewers who were about to go pro. I mentioned the RI company and they mentioned that they had done a name search and secured the rights, etc. I could see this coming a mile away, I just never thought it would be Magic Hat squashing it.