Is Buc-ee's Damaging its Brand By Filing So Many Lawsuits Against Small Businesses?

Buc-ee's is attracting a great deal of media attention lately as it filed its most recent lawsuit -- the latest in a long line of such -- against an independent mini mart in Beaverville, Ohio, named Beaver's Mini Mart. According to The Austin American-Statesman, the suit claims that shoppers may confuse the Beaver's logo with that of Buc-ee's, alleging trademark infringement.

"I don't know why they would sue a small business like mine," owner Vik Boparai told media. "I have two kids, and this store is how I feed them," he added. Boparai's mini mart has been in business for more than 20 years. A GoFundMe in support of the mini mart has also been launched to help cover any legal fees, and has thus far raised more than $40,000 of the $45,000 initial fundraising goal.

Buc-ee's Lampooned Over Litigious Behavior by 'Last Week Tonight' Host John Oliver

This news comes on the heels of a high-profile segment of "Last Week Tonight" hosted by John Oliver in which Oliver recounted Buc-ee's proclivity for pursuing legal action against various small businesses across the country, "whose logos feature cartoon animals, even when they bear very little or no resemblance to Buc-ee's famous – and trademarked – grinning beaver logo," according to USA Today.

Oliver elaborated to say that "Buc-ee's loves to sue other companies, particularly those with animal mascots," and that the travel center chain had actually won most of these suits, with defendants opting to settle or design logos -- or go out of business entirely. "Most just don't have the resources to fight a company this big," the TV host added.

"During the segment, Oliver reintroduces Mr. Nutterbutter, a 7-foot-tall squirrel mascot originally created for a 2017 segment taking aim at former coal executive Bob Murray, which resulted in an unsuccessful defamation lawsuit against the show and HBO," USA Today's Gabe Hauari and David Ferrara wrote.

"The show created a cartoon logo of Mr. Nutterbutter that looks similar to the Buc-ee's logo and put the logo on a variety of products, including tumblers, hats, shirts, onesies, mugs and pajamas, among other items," the authors added, noting that these items are for sale at buc-off.com with proceeds going to Hunger Free America. Buc-ee's, in reply, stated it has no intentions to sue HBO over the issue.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Calls Out Buc-ee's Over Mini Mart Lawsuit

Buc-ee's only recently opened a store in Ohio (in Huber Heights) in April, and Governor Mike DeWine isn't happy with how the company is comporting itself in regards to the new lawsuit.

“They need to dismiss this lawsuit. This is ridiculous,” DeWine said, per The Columbus Dispatch. “It is Beavercreek for heaven’s sake. You know. You expect to find in Beavercreek things named 'beaver.'”

DeWine continued by saying that Ohioans "love Buc-ee's" while also welcoming the company to the state, but also that this particular lawsuit is not doing Buc-ee's any favors among local residents.

“All they are doing is creating ill will,” DeWine concluded.