Colombian brewers have been in a legal battle with 20th Century Fox, saying the “Duff” brand cannot belong to the News Corporation subsidary as it only appears “in a fictional world,” reported French news agency AFP on Tuesday.
The brewers originally named the beer “Duff Beer” after the preferred drink of cartoon character Homer Simpson, and then were forced to change the name to “DuH Beer” after being sued by 20th Century Fox, stylizing the capital H to look like a double f as can be seen on the website.
“The fact that 20th Century Fox does not have such a product in the market does not mean they can take advantage of a brand,” said Alicia Lloreda, a Colombian attorney with 20th Century Fox.
Colombian government regulators ruled in August that the brothers cease production, distribution and sales of the beer in Colombia.
Duff Sudamerica attorney Santiago Mora is set to appeal the decision. “We are not going to let ourselves be frightened by a multinational,” said Mora.
Alvaro Ballesteros has insisted that they are not infringing on 20th Century Fox’s brand, “simply because in reality they do not have it. It appears only in cartoons, in a fictional world,” he said.
