BuzzBallz Beats Some Counterclaims in ‘Big Sipz’ Trademark Suit

BuzzBallz LLC trimmed counterclaims brought by canned-cocktail competitor Patco from its trademark suit, escaping antitrust but not cybersquatting allegations.

MPL Brands NV Inc., which operates as Patco and sells Big Sipz drinks, plausibly alleged Buzzballz snapped up Big Sipz web domains after Patco began using the mark, according to an order issued Tuesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. But Patco failed to establish that BuzzBallz was dangerously close to monopoly power or even define a legally defensible market that was at risk of being dominated, the court said.

The decision by Judge Eumi K. ...