In the context of the holiday season, what comes to mind when you see a shiny bright red star?

If you’re reading this post from Russia, perhaps the top of a New Year Tree is brought to mind.

Of course, I have brands on my mind, and it has been hard to miss the barrage of holiday advertisements of two different, but well-known, if not famous, brands that feature a red star:

 

MACY’S claims use of the federally-registered solo red star logo for retail department store services since at least as early as 1892.

Macy’s once owned federal registrations for the red star logo in connection with a variety of products, including golf clubs, medicines, tooth powder, and wines.

The Macy’s red star registration for wines was not renewed, however, and expired in 1994, apparently opening the door to federal registration of the above Heineken logo.

So, does that mean Heineken now owns exclusive trademark rights in a single red star in the context of beverages? No, that context is likely too broad, given the rights SanPellegrino has acquired from its use of a red star logo in connection with “mineral and aerated waters and carbonated fruit drinks” since 1900 (or, perhaps 1961).

Heineken actually opposed registration of the SanPellegrino red star logo in 1997, but the opposition was withdrawn two years later — likely an interesting back-story, if anyone knows it, please share.

But, even limiting rights to the context of beer appears too broad for Heineken, as this non-verbal and non-traditional trademark application to the right is as close as Heineken has come to seeking federal registration of the red star logo without being tied to the Heineken brand name. (The colorless version of the same registered logo is almost a decade old now).

It is a curious decision for Heineken to bind rights in the red star for beer to the green/white/black trade dress — given the substantial brand equity in the red star logo for beer — because what it might end up with on another’s beer taps could leave it pounding its own fist (note the red/green/white trade dress on the Anti Hero IPA specimen to the right of the non-verbal trademark registration on the left below):

It is even more curious that Heineken sat on its hands and its heiny, not even attempting to slap Revolution Brewing’s wrist with an extension of time to oppose registration of the red star tattooed fist tapper trademark. Apparently, Iron Fist Brewing thought about it, but then said never-mind.

At this point in time, let’s just say the “red star” beer has been and continues to flow from the tap to the floor, making it almost impossible to put it back into the keg, as evidenced by these multiple third party uses of a “red star” or something close to it, also in the context of beer branding:

 

Not to mention the Redstar bar in Brooklyn, NY, the Red Star Craft House in Exton, PA, the Red Star Bar & Grille in Baltimore, MD, or the closer-to-home Duluth Red Star.

Briefly turning to the context of politics, given how the red star is also a recognized symbol of communism, how is it that Yum Brands appears to be the only one attracting objections on that basis?

I’m thinking we’re back to where we started with context.

Indeed, Yum Brands’ Bahn Shop — Saigon Street Food, appears to cater to those interested in Vietnamese cuisine, and based upon consumer outrage, it recently announced it would drop the red star logo from its visual identity.

Finally, back to Heineken, would you have pounded more than a fist against Revolution Brewing’s six-pointed red star logo on the beer tapper?

Not exactly a scientific survey, but I showed the tapper to one of my sons (who doesn’t yet fit Heineken’s target demographic), and he confidently assumed it was a Heineken beer tap.

Who should be more worried, Heineken, Revolution Brewing, or me?