Modelo Fails to Prove Seltzer Isn’t Beer Before Trademark Trial

The maker of Corona beer was denied a partial pretrial win when a New York federal court declined to rule that hard seltzer isn’t beer for the purposes of a disputed contract.

Cervecería Modelo de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. argued CB Brand Strategies LLC should be held liable for misusing the Corona trademark on seltzer when its license covers only beer. But Modelo’s bid for summary judgment echoed earlier bids for dismissal that were rejected because “beer” is ambiguous in the contract, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York said. The two-page ruling said ...