Trademark complaint forces Missoula winery, Rattlesnake Creek Vineyard to find another name. Do you have a suggestion?

A West Coast winery has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Rattlesnake Creek Vineyard owners Andy Sponseller and Connie Poten that, basically, tells them to find another name.

And they will.

On a snowy, sunny day last week, Sponseller grimaced for a moment while he looked at the frozen fields of grapevines and a whitetail doe about 70 yards away.

“At first I thought, ‘How dare they?’ We’re just a hop, skip and a jump from the creek,” Sponseller said, looking toward the dark thicket of trees and brush that line the Rattlesnake.

But after consulting with Missoula trademark lawyer Shane Vannatta, Sponseller realized that his vineyard’s case was pretty thin. Portteus Winery, of Zillah, Wash., has been making a wine called Rattlesnake Ridge since 1989.

Sponseller and Poten could easily spend $100,000 on the case and lose, and then have to shell out attorney fees for Portteus. The total could top $250,000.

But that doesn’t make Sponseller or Poten feel any better. Maybe it’s worse.

“I love this area,” Sponseller said.

…

By any other name

Rattlesnake Creek Vineyard needs a new name.

Send ideas to owners Andy Sponseller and Connie Poten by Friday, Dec. 16.

Don’t send names that already have been trademarked by others. The best names are arbitrary, fanciful and suggestive. The winner gets a case of wine every year for the rest of their life. You must be 21 to enter the contest.

For more information or to offer a suggestion, telephone Sponseller or Poten at (406) 549-8703 or e-mail them at [email protected].

By ROBERT STRUCKMAN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/12/11/news/local/news03.txt

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