Duff Beer for me, Duff Beer for you, I’ll have a Duff, you’ll have a trademark opposition too. Fox is opposing the registration of a trademark for a brand of scotch, MILTONDUFF, saying it is too confusing to The Simpsons’ once fictional but now real, DUFF BEER.

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In July 2014, a subsidiary of the alcohol giant, Pernod Ricard, filed for trademark registration application for the MILTONDUFF mark to cover “alcoholic beverages except beers.” Miltonduff distillery was established in 1824 on the northern coast of Scotland. The distillery produces a pure single malt scotch that is now owned by a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard. Last week, Fox filed its opposition to the registration of the mark claiming that it is confusingly similar to the DUFF BEER and DUFF trademarks, as it first appeared on *The Simpson*. The rich history of the beer of choice of Homer Simpson is detailed in Fox’s opposition. Duff first appeard in episode three of season one of *The Simpons* which aired on January 21, 1990. The CEO at the Duff Brewery is Howard K. Duff , the official spokesman is “Duffman” (ooooh yeah), and the beer has its own amusement park named “Duff Gardens”. In 2013, real Duff started being served at Universal Studios in Florida where tourist can visit a part of the park that looks like it is right out of *The Simpsons*. Fox argues that the MILTONDUFF mark incorporates the DUFF mark completely and is used in connection with the same exact type of products, booze. Therefore, it is highly likely that many people would be confused to believe believe that MILTONDUFF is affiliated with or endorsed by DUFF or Fox. While *The Simpsons* have been on for a long time, its use of “duff” does not predate the distillery. Hopefully the parties can sip on a nice Duff, scotch or beer, and come to an agreement to resolve this dispute. If not, the Trademark Office will have to decide if the two marks are confusing enough to justify rejection of the registration of the MILTONDUFF mark. A big d’oh for Pernod Ricard. ![simp](http://piratedthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/simp.png)