Buc-ee's Ignores John Oliver's Open Invitation, Sues Another Small Business Instead
Buc-ee's, fresh off World Cup fame, continues its tradition of suing tiny businesses, while ignoring John Oliver's very public invitation to a legal showdown.
Buc-ee's, the beloved mega-convenience store chain that went viral during the World Cup, has a hobby: suing small gas stations. It's like a game of whack-a-mole, but with legal fees. John Oliver, on his show Last Week Tonight, recently begged the company to sue him over his squirrel mascot, Mr. Nutterbutter, and the “Buc-Off” branding. But Buc-ee's, showing the wisdom of not picking a fight with HBO's legal team, has declined. Instead, it's turned its litigious gaze to a more vulnerable target: Beaver's Mini Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio.
According to WDTN, an NBC affiliate in Miami Valley, Ohio, Buc-ee's opened its first locations in the state earlier this year. Now, it's claiming that Beaver's Mini Mart, a local staple for "decades," has a beaver logo that could confuse customers. The suit, filed days ago, alleges that the Mini Mart's cartoon beaver mascot is too similar to Buc-ee's own, with its "wide eyes and a smile" that also "uses red as a predominant color." Because, as we all know, beavers are known for their unique fashion choices.
This isn't the first time Buc-ee's has taken on a small fry. The company has a history of suing other small businesses over trademark issues. It's a bit like a playground bully who picks on the little kids but runs away when someone their own size shows up. John Oliver, for his part, has already fended off a lawsuit from Bob Murray, a mining executive who unsuccessfully sued for defamation after a 2017 episode about the coal industry. So, Buc-ee's, if you're reading this: Mr. Nutterbutter is still waiting.
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