Coopers claims Jim’s Mowing ripped off its beer logo
Longstanding Aussie brewing giant Coopers is demanding Jim’s Mowing stop ripping off its classic green logo for its Lawn Lager. Have your say in our poll.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Brewing giant Coopers has accused Jim’s Mowing of cutting its grass with a rip off of its classic green Original Pale Ale logo on the franchise’s beer label.
The South Australian company has sent a legal letter demanding Jim’s Mowing stop using the design on its beer Jim’s Lawn Lager, which was launched last year.
Coopers, which started brewing in 1862, claims Jim’s Mowing has ripped off its design.
Jim’s Lager is a collaboration with Bondi Brewing.
“Coopers have concerns regarding the labelling, due to its substantial similarity to our Coopers logo and can design,” the letter, dated March 8 and sent by Coopers’ legal affairs at risk manager Caitlin Rahkola read.
“We hold a number of trademarks for the ‘roundel’ device featured on all our can and bottle designs including the Original Pale Ale.
Coopers claimed the design of Jim’s Lawn Lager was “deceptively similar” to the Pale Ale branding.
The brewer says in the letter it wanted to solve the matter “amicably and without any further steps being taken”.
Coopers was number four in the list of Australia’s top selling beers for 2022.
The brewery has become one of the few brewers that has not been swallowed up by major players such as Asahi, which purchased CUB for $16 billion in 2019.
The labelling stoush is an unusual step, with many brands at discount supermarket chain Aldi using similar designs to major brewing labels on its cut-price beer.
Those are sold at Aldi stores nationwide, while Jim’s Lawn Lager is available online at the beercartel.com.au and on Jim’s Mowing Facebook page.
The mid-strength beer costs an eye-watering $75 a slab.
Jim’s Mowing started in 1982 by current chief executive Jim Penman. The company started franchising out its lawn mowing business in 1989 and now offers a range of domestic services.
There are now almost than 4000 franchisees across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK.
“The green is the Jim’s green, it’s the same colour as what we have on our trailers,” Mr Penman said on Friday.
“I don’t think anyone is going to confuse a Jim’s Lager with a Coopers Pale Ale – our logo is probably better known than theirs.”
Coopers Brewery issued a statement on Friday afternoon stating it “had been in confidential discussions with The Bondi Brewing Co. regarding the further production of the Jim’s Lawn Lager.”
“Coopers’ request related to the product’s labelling, and its similarity to our iconic Coopers Original Pale Ale,” the statement read.
“We acknowledge that the product is an inspired collaboration with another iconic Australian company. Consequently, we were satisfied by it being a limited release and made no request as to the existing stock.
“However Coopers, as with any business, must protect its registered intellectual property. Discussions such as these are therefore not uncommon in industry.
“We understood based on these discussions with The Bondi Brewing Co. that this matter had been resolved amicably.”
Originally published as Coopers claims Jim’s Mowing ripped off its beer logo
Join the conversation
Last hope for Australia’s longest cold case
A final effort to find the remains of the missing Beaumont children will begin today, almost 60 years after their disappearance.
Read more
Shock Higgins texts that sent man to jail
Vile texts threatening to “bury” Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, and “chop up” their dog Kingston can be revealed in full for the first time.
Read more