And finally… iron brew

A family-owned brewery has triumphed over the makers of TV blockbuster Game of Thrones in a trade mark dispute over its “Game of Stones” beer.

In much less dramatic scenes than the televised conflict over the Iron Throne of Westeros, a judge ruled that customers would only associate the beer and the show “fleetingly”.

Wiltshire beermaker Wadworth said the name of its 3.8 per cent ABV golden ale was inspired by Stonehenge and Avebury, which are “a stone’s throw away” from its brewery.

Broadcaster HBO challenged the trade mark on the basis that customers could think the drink was associated with the show, having already launched a Game of Thrones beer in the US and Game of Thrones-branded whisky in collaboration with Diageo.

Mark Bryant, principal hearing officer in the Trade Marks Tribunal, dismissed the challenge and ordered HBO to pay £1,050 towards the application, The Times reports.

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