Back on Oct. 15th, we reported that Monster Energy Drink (Hansen Beverage) had launched an attack on a small brewery in Vermont (read original story). In short, Monster Energy Drink’s lawyers told Rock Art Brewing to put the nix on their Vermonster American Barley Wine, claiming that it infringed on Hansen’s Monster trademark.

As we reported, Rock Art was preparing for a long and expensive legal battle. Although it threatened to be a potentially fatal financial blow for the small brewery, owner Matt Nadeau was committed to confronting the giant and challenging the concept that financial might makes legal right.

This became a big deal. Nobody likes to see a little guy get picked on by a big guy. It quickly became a “cause” on Facebook and garnered the attention of the social media world. “Boycott Monster” became the mantra. The folks at Hansen Beverage Company obviously are not stupid. And the truth is, Rock Art’s Vermonster was never any kind of a threat to Monster Energy Drink.

Well, we have some good news to report. Hansen and Rock Art have come to an agreement. Below is a statement we recently received from Hansen Beverage.

Hansen Beverage Company and Rock Art Brewery today issued the following statement in connection with a recent trademark issue:

Hansen Beverage Company and Rock Art Brewery have reached an amicable agreement under which both companies’ respective products will be protected – Hansen’s Monster Energy® line of energy drinks and Rock Art’s Vermonster beer products.

>Rodney Sacks, Hansen’s chief executive officer, said: “We are pleased that we were able to resolve this matter expeditiously and put the concerns that had arisen behind us so that both parties can concentrate on their day-to-day businesses, selling their respective high-quality products. Our intent in this matter was simply to protect Hansen’s trademarks and prevent any likelihood of confusion arising in the future through potential product extensions and was not to prevent Rock Art Brewery from selling their Vermonster beer.”

>Matt Nadeau, owner of Rock Art Brewery, said: “Once Rodney and I were able to talk to each other we quickly appreciated each other’s points of view and he acted reasonably, which allowed us to rapidly come to an agreement we are both happy with and allows both of us to move forward positively.”

This is your typical David vs. Goliath sort of thing. A small brewery in Vermont produces a beer called Vermonsters. Cute name. The folks at Rock Art Brewing were a bit taken back when they received a letter from Monster Engergy Drinks telling them to stop using the name Vermonster.

Do you get it? The word monster is contained within the word Vermonster, so obviously that means that Monster Energy Drinks is within their legal rights to… WTF?

Rock Art has built their business from the ground up with lots of hard work and personal hardship – not at all unusual in the craft beer business. They cannot afford to lose the cache they’ve built with Vermonster. It would be like telling Georgetown Brewing that they can no longer call it Manny’s Pale Ale. Beyond that, it’s a matter of principle.

Does this sound vaguely familiar to what happened to Laughing Buddha? Well, to be honest, this is probably even worse. This is about Monster Energy Drink (a $1 billion corporation) being rat bastards and picking on a little guy because they can. Monster can afford to spend millions of dollars defending their position regardless of how absurd that position might be.

Rock Art Brewing’s attorneys do indeed say it is an absurd case. They truly believe that Monster has no legal claim. However, they are also advising their client to give in and not go to war with Monster. Obviously, Rock Art cannot afford anything close to a big, corporate legal battle. Even an uber-sized craft brewery doesn’t have pockets that deep.

Matt Nadeau, owner of Rock Art Brewing, says he’s not giving up so easy. To him, it is a matter of principle. He says that he simply will not buy into the notion that justice in America is for sale to the highest bidder.

Without meaning to sound too political, this is an example of Corporate America behaving like bullies. Another sad step towards the complete Walmarting of America.

Your weapons are irrelevant. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

I’m not going to tell you what to do. I’m just going to ask that you watch the video below and do whatever you think is right.

Probably, the best thing you can do to support Rock Art Brewing is to go to their Web site and then do what they suggest. In the meantime, watch the video. http://www.rockartbrewery.com