Red Bull has challenged Norfolk-based microbrewery Redwell over its similar-sounding name.
Redwell, which makes lager and ale, registered the name as a trademark within the drinks category, which includes energy drinks. However Hansjorg Jeserznik, Red Bull brand enforcement manager, wrote to the microbrewery to lodge a complaint that the brewery’s trademark was ‘highly similar’ to Red Bull’s earlier trademark of RED.

Red Bull’s action is not the first time a multinational soft drinks maker has hit the headlines for threatening a small UK business with legal action over trademark infringement.

In November 2010, Coca-Cola threatened legal action against a Hampshire restaurant called Relentless after claiming the steak house’s sign breached the trademark for its Relentless energy drink brand.

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