ANN ARBOR, MI – An Ann Arbor restaurant attempting to trademark the term “Buckeye Tears” for a local beer is pushing back against a legal challenge from The Ohio State University in a reply that also appears to poke fun at the storied Michigan rival.

Ohio State first filed a notice of opposition in late August with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office against an application from the Brown Jug, 1204 S. University Ave., alleging a Buckeye Tears product would “cause confusion” among customers and suggest an affiliation with the university.

Buckeyes are the Ohio State mascot.

The Brown Jug serves Buckeye Tears as a set of beers provided by a local distributor . It has been described as a light beer. Founded in the 1930s, the restaurant has long been popular among University of Michigan

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