Following dozens of trademark infringement lawsuits filed by Buc-ee's against businesses across the country, comedian and talk show host John Oliver is poking fun at the bear—or, in this case, the cartoon beaver—and challenging the gas station mega-chain to sue him and HBO instead.
The "Last Week Tonight" host concluded his July 26 episode by goading Buc-ee's, known for its aggressive brand protection, into attacking a company of its own size, and positioning his show and network as a potential target.
While Oliver has defended many small businesses taken to court, he was quick to add that South Carolina clothing company Buc-ee's, which he sued last year, probably deserves it.
Oliver detailed Buc-ee's' penchant for going after about a dozen small businesses—and threatening many more—whose logos featured cartoon animals, even if they bore little or no resemblance to its signature smiling beaver logo. And the company won most of the cases.
But local brand Born United, based in Goose Creek and part-owned by Summerville resident and Republican state senator Tom Fernandez, doesn't just resemble the Buc-ee's logo, Oliver noted. The clothing company sells merchandise featuring near-exact images of the toothy beaver, as well as Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear, and other famous cartoon characters wielding guns.
Born United defended the clothing company after Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against them in May 2025, telling The Post and Courier at the time that it was clearly a parody protected by free speech.
«"For the record, I'm a proud owner of 49% shares of the Born United store in Myrtle Beach. And yes, one of the Born United t-shirts has a parody of a beaver on it..." Fernandez wrote on Facebook last year. "That's not a Buc-ee's logo. It's creative. It's unique. And it's copyrighted.".
The case is still pending. Neither Fernandez nor the lawyers representing Born United in the lawsuit responded to a request for comment.
Lawyers for Buc-ee's also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
However, Oliver said Born United is one of the few companies that Buc-ee's might have valid grounds for a lawsuit.
«"Frankly, in some cases, you can understand why they were upset," Oliver said, showing a photo of a red "Born United" T-shirt featuring a beaver holding an AR-style rifle. "For example, Buc-ee's sued a clothing company for selling T-shirts with an image that looks very similar to their beaver holding an AR-style rifle.".
The beaver is depicted within a yellow circle with a black outline, similar to the Buc-ee's logo. Instead of the animal's signature red hat, the "Born United" illustration features the character dressed in a military uniform and wearing night-vision goggles.
Born United's lawyers could not be reached for comment.
Oliver challenges to a game of Buck-Off«
The English-born talk show host is now taking it upon himself to get to the bottom of the problem, calling the lawsuits "deeply American.".
«"Buc-ee's loves to sue other companies, especially those with animals as mascots," he said in the episode, comparing most of the logos side by side to highlight the lack of similarity. He declared that Buc-ee's actions "look like outright mockery.".
The latest lawsuit was filed against Coles IP Holdings, LLC, which owns the Mickey's Mart chain of convenience stores and gas stations in Ohio. The case, filed in Ohio federal court in February, concerns a logo that Buc-ee's claims could cause confusion because it depicts a cartoon animal facing right, with wide eyes and a smile.
Ohio-based Coles IP Holdings is defending its moose logo after Buc-ee's sued it for trademark infringement in February.
Oliver countered that Mickey's logo bore little resemblance to the original, as it depicted a completely different animal (a moose) in a red hexagon.
Choke Canyon Bar-B-Q in San Antonio, Texas, also found itself in the middle of a trademark dispute with Buc-ee's—and lost—over its use of an image of a green alligator in a beaver-like pose on a yellow background.
Oliver noted that Buc-ee's has won almost all of its cases because other companies typically choose to settle and change their logos or simply shut down entirely, as "most simply don't have the resources to fight such a large company.".
Founded in 1982 by Arch "Beaver" Eplin III, this Texas-based chain has 56 locations in 13 states. One of the Texas locations holds the Guinness World Record for the largest convenience store. The chain's Florence location, the only one in South Carolina, opened in May 2022. Another store is planned for the Lowcountry in 2028, near Interstate 95 in Hardywell, Jasper County.
Oliver quoted a legal expert who said Buc-ee's should be careful with this strategy because the more lawsuits you file against these smaller companies, the more likely you are to run into one that has the means to enforce its rights.
«"And that's where we come in," Oliver said in the segment. "Because, as it turns out, we're all about getting into a fight with Buc-ee's.".
In the episode, Oliver reintroduced a character previously created for a 2017 segment named Mr. Nutterbutter and placed him in a yellow circle similar to the Buc-ee's logo.
The "Last Week Tonight" team then featured the image on various merchandise, including cups, T-shirts, underwear, and umbrellas. They're available for a limited time at Buc-Off.com, with all proceeds going to Hunger Free America, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to end hunger in the country.
«"So if any major gas station chain has a problem with our new logo and products and wants to get lawyers involved, guess what? Go ahead," Oliver said. "Although remember, by doing so, you'll be directly taking food away from hungry people.".