Paul O'Grady has sent a trademark dispute after a bar named a beer after his alter ego Lily Savage.
Liverpool based bar Dead Crafty Beer Company marked International Women's Collaboration Brew Day with a special IPA named Savage, brewed in collaboration with Top Rope Brewery. The red, glittery Bakewell Tart IPA was accompanied by a cartoon likeness of Paul O'Grady's alter ego Lily Savage, a drag persona he has used for years.
Discovering the new addition to their range, the Birkenhead native hit back at the brewery saying they did not have the right to use his image. The character of Lily Savage has been a registered trademark for decades.
READ MORE: Paul O'Grady calls BBC 'tight b*******' over Lily Savage recording
He said: "I wouldn’t mind if this brewery showed me the courtesy by asking me if they could use the name, particularly when it comes to promoting alcohol." London-based legal firm Beck Greener sent a warning letter to the brewery, stating Lily Savage's name and likeliness have been in place since the 80s and they had no right to use it as it "constitutes an infringement."
Vicky Morgan, co-owner of the Dale Street bar, said she was "shocked" to receive the letter as she had great admiration for the television host. Taken back, she said: "Even more so as we named it Savage due to being inspired by the character we loved. "While we have the utmost respect for Paul O’Grady, his intellectual property and reputation, we hope these actions will stop further legal recourse and go towards helping animals in need in Liverpool."
The brewery has since changed the name of the IPA to Salvaged and promised proceeds will go to an animal sanctuary, but Paul was not convinced of their intentions. He said: "I’m highly suspicious of any organisation who uses my name or any name associated with me without my permission to ‘raise funds for animal charities’.
"If they had any business acumen at all they would have asked to help with this so-called fundraising in the first place. I’d like to see this brewery bring out a lager named after Mickey Mouse. Disney would not only sue them, they’d close them down."
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