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iBeer Game Creator Sues Molson for Copyright Infringement

by Blake Besharian on October 20, 2008 at 10:53 AM



You might think that an application that makes it look as though you're drinking beer out of your iPhone is not a serious business. But for Steve Sheraton and his company Hottrix, it's a high stakes game. Hottrix is currently involved in a $12.5 million lawsuit with Molson Coors Brewing Company for copyright infringement regarding a beer-themed iPhone application.

Earlier this year, Steve and his company developed their iBeer iPhone app. In May 2008, they copyrighted and released the app before the iPhone was even opened up to developers. Apple opened up the iPhone to developers in July, which is when Molson Coors Brewing Group contacted Hottrix about using the app to promote its Carling beer. Steve said no. Undeterred, Molson contracted a Swedish company to make a remarkably similar app called iPint with the Carling beer logo on it, and a little game attached. Then it posted the new game as a free download from the iTunes store, right next to the $3 iBeer app.

A cease and desist order has removed iPint from the U.S. iTunes store, but it's still available in Europe. Meanwhile, if you're in the mood for a novelty iPhone app that you'll almost certainly never use after a week, then you can help Steve with his lawyers fees and download iBeer (or the kid-friendly iMilk app) today. [From: The Register]

Tags: beer, brew, iphone app, IphoneApp

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