Buc-ee's files multiple trademark lawsuits against smaller retailers
Texas convenience store chain Buc-ee's has pursued several trademark infringement cases, including actions against a clothing brand, a Missouri dog park and Ohio's Mickey's chain, drawing public criticism.
Texas-based Buc-ee's, a convenience store and gas station chain, has initiated a series of trademark infringement lawsuits against smaller businesses. The company sued clothing brand Born United over a beaver design that resembled Buc-ee's mascot, prompting the brand to remove the items from its website. A Missouri dog park named Barc-ee's was also closed after a lawsuit, and a San Antonio restaurant chain, Choke Canyon Bar-B-Q, faced a jury verdict that its alligator logo was too similar to Buc-ee's branding.
The most widely reported case involves Ohio's Mickey's convenience store chain, which operates 42 locations. Buc-ee's alleges that Mickey's cartoon moose logo, featuring a right-facing animal with wide eyes and a smile, infringes on its beaver mascot. Mickey's has been in business since 1982, the same year Buc-ee's opened its first store in Texas. When asked for comment, a Buc-ee's spokesperson said the company does not comment on ongoing litigation.