UPDATE:
According to Brian Manzullo of the Detroit Free Press, the Eastern Market Brewing Company has ceased production of their new Same Old Lager beer following threatened legal action by Barry Sanders.
From Detroit Free Press:
Eastern Market Brewing Co.’s “Same Old Lager” is no more, just one day after the beer was announced.
The Detroit-based brewery, with a production facility and taproom at Ferndale Project, said it will cease sales and production of the Detroit Lions-themed lager after Lions legend Barry Sanders threatened legal action for using his likeness on the label.
🍺 UPDATE: There is no longer a Detroit Lions beer called Same Old Lager. https://t.co/MytiAg8yzx
— Brian Manzullo (@BrianManzullo) November 23, 2020
Just four hours after Manzullo’s original story, Sanders took to Twitter to say he has no affiliation with the beer company and that his legal team was looking into it.
Original Report:
On Monday, Brian Manzullo published a story in the Detroit Free Press revealing a new Detroit Lions beer put out by Eastern Market Brewing Company which is appropriately named, “Same Old Lager.”
Though it seems like a good concept, there is a little problem. Well, actually it could end up being a pretty big problem as the beer features an image of Lions’ legend Barry Sanders.
🍺 NEW: There's a new Detroit Lions beer, courtesy of Eastern Market Brewing Co., and it's called Same Old Lager. It asks: "Don't set your expectations too high." https://t.co/7FnvFd4AsI pic.twitter.com/GUCAXfHbD4
— Brian Manzullo (@BrianManzullo) November 23, 2020
The problem is, Sanders’ image is allegedly being used without his permission.
Upon catching wind of the new beer that features his image, Sanders tweeted out that he has no affiliation with the beer company and that they are using the image without his permission. Barry said his legal team is working through the process of shutting it down. Sanders also apologized to any fans who were duped.
Some of you may have seen this in the @freep today – I have no affiliation with this company, and they are using my image without any permission. My legal team is working through the process to shut this down ASAP. Apologies to any fans that were duped. pic.twitter.com/STCnX2fuGS
— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) November 23, 2020
