The word duke, as in the Iron Duke Beer is in reference to the the former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives who represented Ludlow as part of his district, and has nothing to do with Duke University who is attempting to force the Iron Duke beer company, which started in Ludlow and also had an Iron Duke engine in their vehicle, to refrain from using the Word Duke as part of it's name. A word in common usage can not be registered, anymore than a word like King, Queen etc. President, Senator, Chair etc.

By the way, another company, which bought Carando Meat Company attempted the son of their newly aquired company from using his family name in his new company Carando Gourmet and failed. The former Sheraton Restaurant in Westfield was challenged by the Sheraton Hotels from using the name Sheraton but he prevailed against the much larger entity because he was using his name before they did.

Donald Flannery
Wilbraham