A federal judge denied Summefest's requests in a lawsuit against Red LobsterMonday, in which the music festival alleged damages to its brand after the restaurant chain of used the fest’s name in its “Lobster & Crab Summerfest” promotion.
District Judge Lynn Adelman said in his decision that he saw no “irreparable harm” to Summerfest’s parent company Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., due to Red Lobster’s use of the term “Summerfest” in its promotion.
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According to the court document, Red Lobster apparently renamed the promotion “Crabfest” after MWF objected to the use of the word "Summerfest."
MWF argued time was a pressing factor in this suit, however, Adelman said since the festival ended on July 9 (one day prior to the decision), the immediate need for Red Lobster to stop using the word “Summerfest” had passed, if that need even existed.
Adelman also said that MWF did not provide notice to Red Lobster necessary under federal statute.
