Artist Claims “Beautiful Blonde” Ale Maker Infringed Her Copyright

A woman who allegedly created a design for Knee Deep Brewing Co. to use on its beer tap handles has sued the company for breach of contract and copyright infringement after they could not apparently come to terms over a price for her design and the company began using a similar design on its product labels. Sylvers v. Knee Deep Brewing Co., LLC, No. 11-714 (D. Nev., filed October 4, 2011). The disputed design is purportedly being used on the company’s “Beautiful Blonde” Ale; it features a woman posing before a panorama of downtown Reno, Nevada, with mountains in the background. The plaintiff, who allegedly registered the “Girl Over Reno” design with the U.S. Copyright Office, seeks preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, compensatory damages and restitution, interest, costs, and attorney’s fees.