Editor’s note: Jeff Gore, Huber Heights’ mayor, posted the statement below to his Facebook page early Friday. He shared information he says people don’t understand about Buc-ee’s trademark infringement lawsuit against Beaver’s Mini Mart in nearby Beavercreek.
Ohio’s first Buc-ee’s opened in April in Huber Heights more than 10 miles from Beavercreek. A second one is planned for Mansfield.
The lawsuit has caused a backlash against Buc-ee’s. Ohioans have rallied behind Beaver’s Mini Mart, a small business that has operated for more than two decades. Gore’s post has been edited slightly for grammar and clarity.
Two sides to every story! Here’s what we know now that no one knew yesterday.
Arch Aplin, owner of Buc-ee’s, called me today to let me know what was actually happening with this lawsuit.
Granted, this post is based on my conversation with Mr. Aplin today. I have not spoken to Vik (Boparai), the owner of Beaver Mart in Beavercreek. After I spoke to Mr. Aplin, I put him in touch with James Brown at WHIO and the story aired tonight (Aug. 6) at 11.
What no one knows… Vik, with Beavermart, filed for his own trademark of “Beavermart” at the federal level which would have given him access to set up Beavermarts all across the country. According to Mr. Aplin, that happened just a few months after Buc-ee’s officially announced the Huber Heights location.
Mr. Aplin told me directly that Buc-ee’s had no issues with Beavermart using the beaver logo in Beavercreek. He understood and said that makes sense. What Buc-ee’s did not want was a series of Beavermarts popping up across the state or regionally or eventually nationally that violated their trademark.
According to Mr. Aplin, they sent emails and certified mail to try and resolve this with Vik and Beavermart with no response. He told me that this is still true today, that if Vik dropped the Beavermart trademark nationally, Buc-ee’s would drop their suit. Again, he acknowledged Beavermart in Beavercreek made sense.
I find it interesting that for months and months and months no one representing Vik and Beavermart responded to Buc-ee’s regarding settling this out of the trademark court, and after 6 p.m. today and after James Brown’s interview with Mr. Aplin did a representative for Vik reach out to Buc-ee’s attorneys …. and after he has accumulated $40k of your money in a GoFundMe account for legal fees.
Agree or disagree with what’s happening with this, trademarks exist for a reason. I don’t care how big or small you are, you wouldn’t want anyone using your name or images to further their business at your expense. That’s why trademarks exist, and it’s why attorneys fight over them.
Think what you want… act as you will, but there is definitely more to what’s been happening than just Buc-ee’s deciding to sue a mini mart in Beavercreek. We are a country that likes to jump to conclusions without knowing all the facts. It happens every day and even in the news media. This is a perfect example of that.
Mayor Jeff
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Buc-ee’s has good reason to sue mini market. Here’s the backstory I know | Ohio mayor
Reporting by Dispatch Opinion, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Dispatch Opinion, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
