steven36 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Threatened by Hollywood's MPAA, the Minneapolis beer brewery 612 Brew has decided not sell its popular "Rated R" beer anymore. The Hollywood group demanded a name change as it owns the "Rated R" trademark, so the brewery chose to brand its beer "Unrated" instead.The MPAA is best known for its efforts to protect the rights of the major movie studios. However, the group also has some intellectual property of its own to defend.A few weeks ago the MPAA sent a cease and desist letter to Minneapolis beer brewery 612 Brew, who’re known for their tasty beers including the popular “Rated R” brand.The movie industry group pointed out that the company was using the “Rated R” trademark without permission and urged the beer maker to drop the name to avoid confusion.The MPAA registered “Rated R” at the trademark office in the eighties as a certification mark, indicating that a movie is rated unsuitable for children under 17, unless they’re accompanied by an adult.While movie ratings have nothing to do with beer, the MPAA took offense at the name after the brewery filed their own trademark application. According to 612 Brew co-founder Kasak, the MPAA didn’t want the beer makers to use any of the “Rated” variants.“[Our beer] could have been PG, PG-13 or R. It didn’t matter. As long as it contained the word ‘rated’ it would still get flagged,” Kasak told Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal.An MPAA spokesperson confirmed that the group sent a cease and desist letter but further details are not available.The brewery first responded to the demands by arguing that the Rated R name can be used as they clearly operate in a different industry. The MPAA wasn’t convinced though, so 612 decided that it was easiest to change the name.The trademark specifically notes that the MPAA doesn’t have an exclusive right to the word “rated,” but 612 Brew decided to go for a different variant.Starting this year the name of “Rated R” beer was changed to “Unrated,” which isn’t trademarked by the MPAA. While the change is a setback for the brewery it’s co-founder doesn’t believe it will harm business in the long run.“It’s going to take some time for people to get used to it, but it will be OK. It’s a great beer and they’ll drink it regardless of the name,” Kasak notes.The brewery now has to hope that the “unrated” name won’t cause any headaches in the future. A quick search reveals that there’s an “unrated” trademark application in progress by a “yoga pants” outfit, so fingers crossed.Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiNGuS! Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Just when you think the MPAA can't stoop any lower. They won't stop until they are hated by everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurch234 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 A quick search reveals that there’s an “unrated” trademark application in progress by a “yoga pants” outfit,Taylor Swift and now this!? If this keeps going we'll have to learn sign language to communicate without having a lawyer on our ass.Or maybe going back to the basics like groans and grunts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CODYQX4 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Just when you think the MPAA can't stoop any lower.They won't stop until they are hated by everyone.They aren't already hated by everyone who knows they are the group responsible for the unskippable DVDs, Netflix limited content, etc?I see people either hate them, don't know who they are, or are puppets/brainwashed fools who buy their propaganda about them being necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven36 Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Netflix , Hulu or none of them likes them because they cause them to have to block regions off they rather be able to sell to everyone. They cause them to lose money. The MPAA needs to learn a few things from the RIAA witch allows you to stream music free in most regions . I hardly ever pirate music anymore . The answer to most there problem would be to offer free legal alternatives to everyone . There will be a few that still pirate it if they did the hardcore junkies but if they made it legal to view free it would cut most of it out because there be no more demand for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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