North Carolina tribe sues Anheuser-Busch over local logo use

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – A Native American tribe in North Carolina is suing Anheuser-Busch, saying the beer company is illegally using the tribe’s logo.

Media outlets reported the lawsuit was filed by the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina on Tuesday in federal court.

The lawsuit says the brewer is using the tribe’s four-color circular “Heritage, Pride & Strength” logo and slogan above beer coolers in Lumberton and Raeford.

The Lumbee tribe says Anheuser-Busch did not ask permission and using the logo makes the tribe look like it condones drinking. The tribe says the actions are especially disturbing because alcohol abuse is often association with Native Americans.

Neither Anheuser-Busch nor the local distributor of the company’s products responded to questions from media outlets.