A Denver independent bookstore, Denver Book Society, has filed a lawsuit in Colorado federal court seeking a declaratory judgment that its use of the term “book society” does not infringe upon the trademark rights of a California-based book and wine lounge. The bookstore contends that “book society” is a generic term and cannot be trademarked.
Denver Book Society, located in the city’s Uptown neighborhood, was co-founded by Richard Garvin and Kwame Spearman, the former CEO of Tattered Cover. The store aims to reimagine the traditional bookstore experience by combining books with community-centric amenities, functioning not only as a bookstore but also as a coffee shop, future bar, and social hub for board games, puzzles, and book clubs. The bookstore emphasizes human connection and conversation through books, especially in a post-pandemic world. ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/02/26/denver-book-society-indepedent-bookstore?utm_source=openai))
The legal dispute arises from a claim by a California book and wine lounge that “book society” is a protected trademark. Denver Book Society argues that the term is generic and widely used to describe groups or organizations centered around books, and therefore, cannot be subject to exclusive trademark rights.
This lawsuit highlights the challenges independent bookstores face in establishing unique identities while navigating complex trademark laws. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the use of common literary terms in business names and the broader landscape of intellectual property rights within the book industry.