Born United agrees to pay Buc-ee’s $850K in trademark lawsuit

South Carolina clothing company Born United has agreed to pay Buc-ee’s $850,000 to resolve a trademark infringement lawsuit over merchandise featuring a tactical, gun-wielding beaver resembling the Texas retailer’s iconic mascot. The court permanently barred Born United from using Buc-ee’s logo or any confusingly similar mark and required the company to destroy affected products and remove related advertising. Born United and supporters, including part-owner South Carolina state Sen. Tom Fernandez, had argued that the design was a protected parody, but the court found Buc-ee’s beaver sufficiently synonymous with the brand to receive trademark protection. Buc-ee’s said Born United had used the logo without authorization on shirts, shorts and patches sold through its stores.