Buc-ee's sued an Ohio mini-mart over its beaver logo, the latest in a string of trademark cases against small stores with animal mascots. The store's owner said he has run the business for a decade.
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Buc-ee's has sued a small Ohio mini-mart, alleging its cartoon beaver logo infringes on the Texas-based chain's iconic branding. The lawsuit adds to a string of trademark cases Buc-ee's has filed against small stores with animal mascots, including one that drew a challenge from comedian John Oliver.
Beaver's Mini Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio, was sued by Buc-ee's late last month, according to local outlet WLWT. Buc-ee's claims the store used a smiling cartoon beaver logo with red coloring that closely mimics its own famous beaver. The chain said it has used the beaver logo for more than four decades and holds several federal trademark registrations. Beaver's Mini Mart adopted the logo after Buc-ee's had established those rights, the complaint argues, creating "confusion among consumers" about whether the two stores are associated.
Buc-ee's opened its first Ohio location near Dayton in April. Beaver's Mini Mart has no gas pumps, sits miles from the nearest interstate, and has been owned by Vik Boparai for more than a decade – years before Buc-ee's first expanded outside Texas in 2018.
"I don't know why they would sue a small business like mine," Boparai told the Enquirer. "I have two kids and this store is how I feed them."
Beavercreek Councilman Zach Upton called the lawsuit overreach. "Common sense is not prevailing," Upton said. "I can't imagine anyone would be confused by the mini mart and Buc-ee's. It's not even in the same ballpark."
The case follows a broader pattern. Buc-ee's has filed more than a dozen trademark lawsuits against small businesses using cartoon animal logos, winning nearly all of them, either through settlements that forced logo redesigns or because defendants lacked resources to fight back, according to legal experts cited by John Oliver on his HBO show "Last Week Tonight."
In the July 26 episode, Oliver urged Buc-ee's to sue his show instead of small stores. He reintroduced Mr. Nutterbutter, a 7-foot-tall squirrel mascot, and launched a merchandise line at Buc-Off.com featuring the character on tumblers, hats, shirts and pajamas. Oliver said all profits would go to Hunger Free America, a nonprofit fighting domestic hunger.
"If any prominent gas station chain out there has an issue with our new logo and products and wants to get lawyers involved, then you know what? Bring it the f--- on," Oliver said on the show.
Fox Business has reached out to Buc-ee's for comment. Buc-ee's did not immediately respond.
The case is Buc-ee's Ltd. v. Beaver's Mini Mart, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
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