Brewery minnow Wayward triumphs in naming battle with global giant SABMiller’s Haywards
Some of the beers brewed by Wayward
A tiny family-run brewery is free to carry on trading under its current name after winning a two-year trademark battle against SABMiller India, a subsidiary of Carlton and United Breweries parent company SABMiller.
The global giant took action after executives felt Sydney-based startup Wayward Brewing, which produces craft ale, was too similar in name to its Indian-brewed Haywards 2000 and Haywards 5000 beer.
But a Trade Mark hearing came down in favour of the brewing minnow, agreeing with Wayward’s argument that Haywards was virtually unknown in Australia and that the names were sufficiently different.
SAB Miller (corporate beer producer) being oh so corporate. What a wayward accusation from them. I consider myself pretty polished when it comes to knowing my beer brands and have never heard of Haywards. I will certainly make it my primary effort, if I ever see Haywards to not drink it and to inform all of my friends to avoid it as well.
The boutique beer spike in Oz must be hurting the corporate’s. my advice to anyone buying beer is to read the label very carefully. You will be surprised how many perceived ’boutique beers’ are actually not and they are fodder from SAB and co…
Not heard of Wayward’s Ales before, but now I have and I look forward to trying them. Go the good guys!
Please push this story out wherever you can and PR Waywards. Not sure if I’ll like their beer but already I love their brand.
Screw you SAB Miller.