Buc-Ee Puts Ohio Gas Station On Its Own With New Logo Lawsuit

The Buc-ee gas station chain has, without a doubt, become one of Texas’ legitimate success stories. Only in the Lone Star State, residents love the series so much that some head to Buc-ee’s just to pass the time in their air-conditioned homes, as there are some unwritten rules they are expected to abide by. Many of those fans also take pride in hats and T-shirts featuring Buc-ee’s mascot, Bucky Beaver, with stickers depicting his gaping teeth affixed to cars throughout the state.

Buc-ee’s, of course, has been working hard to make Bucky’s and its Texas-sized takeaways a national presence. It has expanded operations far beyond the borders of its home country, and its brand has undoubtedly played an important role in that expansion. While some downstate competitors have taken direct cues from Buc-ee’s marketing successes, the chain believes another Ohio competitor has gone too far and may want to confuse its loyal customer base with its beloved mascot. Indeed, Buc-ee recently filed a federal lawsuit against Ohio-based gas station chain Mickey’s (formerly Mickey Mart), claiming that its mascot, Mickey the Moose, infringes on Buc-ee the Beaver’s copyrighted design.

The lawsuit also includes Mickey’s name, which Buc-ee’s claims are very similar to its own. A representative of the Texas chain noted that the formal filing is intended to reduce the potential for consumer confusion between brands. As of this writing, Mickey has not provided an official response to the legal filing.

The first Ohio Buc-ee’s location is expected to be fully operational by April 2026, and Mickey stores will likely still feature Mickey the Moose by then. Either way, it’s not hard to see why Buc-ee’s might be at odds with Mickey the Moose, whose bulging head and googly eyes are nothing like Bucky Beaver’s. Mickey’s head also has a colored background, though his is maroon and hexagonal instead of Buc-ee’s yellow circle.

Similarities aside, Buc-ee’s reps also noted that Mickey was renamed in 2025, when they switched back to the current iteration of their mascot. While Buc-ee’s hasn’t said much, the company may believe it’s no coincidence that the move comes a year after announcing the Ohio expansion. As this legal battle continues, it is important to note that Buc-ee of Texas has filed similar suits against many other US operations. The company was very busy in 2025, when it filed suits against at least 4 different companies, including Owl & Anchor, Prometheus Esoterica Inc., Born United, and Super Fuels convenience stores.

Each of those suits found Buc-ee’s Ltd. says the mascots or logos were very similar to Bucky’s. Some were pretty obvious, too, as Born United clearly copied Bucky’s image for a line of t-shirts featuring a beaver in tactical gear and carrying an assault rifle. However, other cases continue, with Mickey following the Buc-ee’s crusade to protect his beloved mascot.