Heineken Offshoots Must Face Craft Brewer’s Trademark Suit (1)

A group of Heineken NV subsidiaries failed to escape a Miami brewer’s suit in a Florida federal court claiming they threatened its “Tropical Bay IPA” trademark and sabotaged its relationship with a pro soccer team.

Biscayne Bay Brewing Co. wants the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to declare its mark doesn’t infringe “Cerveceria La Tropical” marks licensed by Heineken subsidiary Lagunitas Brewing Co.

It also seeks damages from the companies for convincing Inter Miami of Major League Soccer to terminate a contract with it.

The court rejected the defendants’ claims that it didn’t have jurisdiction over ...