Buc-ee’s and Ohio gas station chain settle trademark infringement lawsuit

NBC4 ^ | Oct. 1, 2026 | Ava Boldizar

[chickenlips]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Texas-based travel center Buc-ee’s and Ohio gas station chain Mickey’s have settled a trademark infringement lawsuit over the companies’ cartoon animal logos.

On Sept. 15, Buc-ee’s and Coles IP Holdings, the parent company of Mickey’s, reached a confidential agreement during a settlement conference, according to court records. The settlement stems from a lawsuit Buc-ee’s filed in February, claiming Mickey’s cartoon moose logo is too similar to its own cartoon beaver logo.

It is unclear whether Mickey’s will change its logo as part of the settlement. Neither Buc-ee’s nor Mickey’s immediately responded to a request for comment.

The filing said that like Buc-ee’s logo, Mickey’s logo incorporates “a cartoon animal facing right with wide eyes and a smile, overlaying a round background.” It argued that the similarities between the two logos would likely cause confusion among customers.

Buc-ee’s complaint also said the defendant was in the process of transitioning its name from “Mickey Mart” to “Mickey’s,” which more closely resembles Buc-ee’s brand.

Mickey’s countersued Buc-ee’s in April on the grounds of unfair competition and malicious litigation, arguing that “Ohio consumers can readily distinguish a moose from a beaver” and cartoon animals are a common mascot for convenience stores.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: bucees; gas; lawsuit; trademark

[chickenlips]

I guess if you sell gas, have restrooms and have a logo you're a target for Buc-ee's.

Article says Buc-ee's is suing Beaver's Mini Mart too.

I've been to a couple Buc-ee's and they are a novelty. The food is okay, but not having an area to sit down to eat a messy brisket sandwich means I don't buy food there. But now that I know that they think me too stupid to differentiate a beaver from a moose, I will cruise on by.

Kathy Hochul should sue Buc-ee's for unauthorized use of her image in their logo.

Pictures of the logos at the link.

[chaosagent]

The food is okay, but not having an area to sit down to eat a messy brisket sandwich means I don’t buy food there.

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Buc-ee’s says they’re a convenience store, not a restaurant. Our local QuikTrip and Circle K’s don’t have anywhere to sit down either.
Also if I’m not mistaken, if they fail to vigorously defend their logo, they could lose it.
A while back, a large convenience store opened up in our area called Bucky’s. Bucky was a dog, but the logos were very similar, even though it was easy to tell it was a dog rather than a beaver. They sued and won.

[BradyLS]

Imperial Buc-cees.

[ConservaTexan]

...if they fail to vigorously defend their logo, they could lose it.

The key point to this whole issue.

[j.havenfarm]

Agreed. Just ask the former holders of the trademarks for aspirin, Kleenex, cellophane, trampoline, thermos, etc

Just back in CA from Colorado and always stop at Buccee’s brought back Beaver Nuggets for family and friends. I think I’ll go have some right now

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Distinguishing between the Buccee’s logo and the Mickey’s logo should be instituted as a sobriety test.

[chickenlips]

It’s a freakin’ moose logo they are suing over. This is about frivolously defending their logo.

[johnnygeneric]

ConservaTexan, I agree. They don’t look anything alike.

[chickenlips]

Distinguishing between the Buccee’s logo and the Mickey’s logo should be instituted as a sobriety test.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If that’s the test it’s obvious the management at Buc-ee’s are raging drunks.

[johnnygeneric]

ConservaTexan, I agree. They don’t look anything alike.

[Gasshog]

Funny that Buckee’s is very similar sounding to Stuckey’s and they luv to crow about their Pee-kan Pralines too.

Yeah. How original. 🐀

[Getready]

Micky Moose? Disney could sue them also.
Just come up with a unique logo and name, before the business starts. There seem to be lots of stolen trademark issues.

[Rockingham]

Indeed. The law disfavors those who sleep on their rights.

[dayglored]

OFGS, the two logos are entirely different.

[jacknhoo]

“Kathy Hochul should sue Buc-ee’s for unauthorized use of her image in their logo.”

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I knew I had seen that beaver somewhere before.

[ReformedBeckite]

I can’t see how anyone can confuse a gas station with half a dozen gas pumps with one that has a hundred or more gas pumps. And The Mascots don’t even look the same.