France, May 6 -- Based in Brittany, the Brasserie de l'Imprimerie was asked by Yoko Ono to stop producing its "John Lemon" beer, a playful nod to her late husband, John Lennon. The request, which arrived via lawyers in late March, initially left owner Aurelien Picard facing a daunting choice: comply immediately or risk steep financial penalties.

According to Picard, the legal notice included figures that would make any small business pause for thought - around €100,000 in potential costs, alongside daily fines ranging from €150 to €1,000 euros if the brewery failed to act.

"They demanded we recall all our product and immediately stop using the brand," he said.

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