Buc-ee's Inc. Sues Teddy's Market Over Mascot Trademark

Buc-ee's Inc. filed a trademark infringement and unfair competition lawsuit in May against Teddy's Market, a small convenience store chain operating in Georgia. The lawsuit alleges that Teddy's Market uses a name and mascot—featuring hats, black noses, and red tongues—that are too similar to the Buc-ee's brand, which the company argues is likely to cause consumer confusion.

Buc-ee's Inc. is seeking the destruction of the Teddy's Market logos, the cancellation of pending trademark applications, and payment for what it describes as "ill-gotten gains."

In a legal response filed Friday, Teddy's Market owner Karan Ahuja denied the claims. Ahuja characterized the action as part of a pattern of overzealous, groundless, and bad-faith trademark litigation. Teddy's Market has requested that the court cancel Buc-ee's Inc. trademark registrations, alleging that the larger company defrauded the United States Patent and Trademark Office.