ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A small north Georgia convenience store chain is fighting against a trademark infringement and unfair competition lawsuit from Buc-ee’s.
In May, the Texas-based gas station chain known for its beaver mascot claimed that Teddy’s Market — which operates convenience stores attached to gas stations in Canton, Ball Ground and soon Decatur — has a mascot too similar to its own.
In the suit, Buc-ee’s cites many supposed resemblances, ranging from both characters wearing hats to both characters having solid black noses and red tongues. The company also says the name “Teddy’s” sounds too similar to the name “Buc-ee’s.” Altogether, the similarities are “likely to cause confusion among consumers,” Buc-ee’s argues.
In a response filed on Friday, the owners of Teddy’s Market denied the claims and called the suit part of a pattern of “overzealous, groundless, and bad-faith trademark litigation.”…