Trial date set for Outdoor World trademark dispute

Bass Pro Trademarks LLC filed the suit against Robert “Buzz” Moore, owner of Buzz’s Outdoor World sporting goods store in Osceola, in U.S. District Court in August. Since that time, attorneys for both parties have exchanged a flurry of court filings.

Late last month, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Dorr entered an order setting a schedule for the case, which will go to trial Oct. 29 if not resolved sooner.

Buzz’s Outdoor World – less than 70 miles from Bass Pro Shops’ flagship Outdoor World store in Springfield – is along State Highway 13 in Osceola. The store, which employs four people, has a rifle range, trap house and archery range.

Bass Pro has alleged in the suit that Moore’s use of Outdoor World was “intentional and likely to cause confusion with Bass Pro’s customers.” The company also contends that the goods and services offered at Buzz’s are “closely related, if not identical” to those at Bass Pro stores.

Bass Pro owns state and federal trademark registrations for Outdoor World – words prominently displayed on several of its sporting goods emporiums nationwide.

Moore previously told Springfield Business Journal he didn’t know Bass Pro had trademarked the words and pointed to other companies with Outdoor World in their names.