Yoko Ono Forces French Brewery to Drop John Lemon Beer

A craft brewery in Brittany has been forced to pull one of its beers from sale after receiving a formal notice from lawyers for Yoko Ono over a name that echoed John Lennon’s. L’Imprimerie, an artisanal brewery in Bannalec, in France’s Finistère department, said it had to stop marketing its lemon-flavored beer called “John Lemon” after the legal warning arrived in late March.

Aurélien Picard, who runs the brewery, said he initially thought the letter was a scam. Speaking to ICI Breizh Izel, he said he checked online and found other similar cases involving wordplay on famous names, which made clear that he could face penalties if he did not remove the product. According to him, the threatened fine could have reached 250 euros a day.

The dispute centers on the use of a name considered too close to John Lennon’s. Lawyers for Ono, Lennon’s widow, argued that the brand had been registered to prevent commercial use or misuse of the musician’s name. Lennon was killed in 1980.

Picard said the brewery then negotiated extra time with Ono’s lawyers so it could sell through its remaining stock. About 5,000 bottles are still to be cleared, and the brewery has until July 1 to do so.

L’Imprimerie is known locally for beers with pun-based names tied to public figures. Among its other labels are “Jean Gol Potier” and “Mireille Mafieux.” The brewery has already proposed a new name for the lemon beer: “Jaune Lemon.”

The case follows another recent dispute in France involving a playful product name. Earlier this year, the Provence estate Domaine de la Mongestine faced demands for compensation from French DJ Bob Sinclar over a wine labeled “Bob Singlar.”