Issue No. 058 · Story 03 · September 25, 2026

Surfside Drops Trade Dress Case Against Anheuser-Busch

Stateside Brands and Anheuser-Busch agreed to end a federal trade dress case over the packaging of Surfside and Skimmers ready-to-drink cocktails, and the court dismissed the claims with prejudice.

§Stateside alleged that Skimmers copied elements of Surfside's can design, including bright stripes and a sun motif.
§The dismissal resolves all claims against Anheuser-Busch and prevents Stateside from refiling them.
§Each side will bear its own costs and attorney fees.
§The parties waived their appeal rights.

THE TAKEAWAY

Packaging claims depend on more than visual resemblance. A brand must also establish protectable, source-identifying trade dress, and a dismissal by agreement can leave that substantive question unresolved.

Source: Food Dive

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