1 April 2017

Dear Brewdog,

Re: Cease and desist - an open letter to Brewdog from Punk

It has recently been brought to our attention that you are claiming legal ownership of the word 'punk' and are sending threatening legal notices to those you feel are infringing on that ownership by using that word. As benefactors of the punk legacy, it falls to us, the global punk scene, to inform you that you are not, in fact, the owners of the word 'punk', we are.

Since the arrival of your punk branded beverage, we have tolerated your usage of our word. Some sections of our global punk family have even welcomed you for your refreshing beer and the two fingers you poked at the old beer making establishment. The 'no animal by-products used' went down especially well with some of our more radical brothers and sisters, and your CEO’s book Business for Punks certainly caused a few smiles. But then your Equity for Punks investment portfolio did raise some eyebrows.

Now we are getting word of some of your dubious legal antics. What is all this about you stopping others from using the word punk? Threatening legal action against a bar for using the word 'punk' in the name? It seems that as you have grown bigger you are now intimidating those smaller than you and this has caused some grave concerns about your true motives.

Definitions of punk are varied and debates over those definitions have been going on since before you were born. However, one thing punk is not is a bully! That goes against everything punk stands for. If you continue in this vein your punk credentials will be revoked and you will be called upon to cease and desist.

Kind regards and a middle finger salute,