Guns N' Roses Sues Brewery Over Rosé Ale

The rockers say the Oskar Blues Brewery beer infringes their trademark.
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Guns N' Roses

Legendary rock band Guns N' Roses is seeing red over a Colorado brewery's rosé ale that bears an almost identical moniker.

The group on Thursday sued Oskar Blues Brewery over its Guns 'N' Rosé ale (label pictured below), claiming the beer infringes on its trademark and publicity rights and falsely implies a connection to the band.

Their lawsuit begins with a little bit of rock 'n' roll history. Back in 1984, Tracii Guns and Axl Rose merged their bands, LA Guns and Hollywood Rose, to form Guns N' Roses. Since then, their chart-toppers like "Paradise City" have led to sold-out tours, millions upon millions of records sold and music videos with billions of YouTube views. They've also sold branded merchandise like pint glasses, t-shirts and bandannas.

Guns N' Roses says the brewery has been selling the rosé ale in canned and keg form since 2018, as well as other merchandise bearing the brew's name. The brewery filed an application to register "Guns N Rose" as a trademark last August, which prompted the band's business manager to reach out and attempt to resolve the dispute. According to the complaint, the brewery refused to stop selling the beer and related merchandise but did abandon its trademark application.

The band is asking the court to bar the brewery from making or selling the Guns 'N' Rosé ale, and deliver to them for destruction any merchandise or promotional material bearing the mark. They're also seeking compensatory and punitive damages. 

Oskar Blues Brewery has not yet responded to a request for comment on the complaint, which is posted below.