WordPress vs WP Engine – Trademark Dispute
A Battle Over Branding and Legal Rights – If you’re in the web development community you’ll have been captivated recently by the ongoing trademark dispute between WordPress and WP Engine, a leading provider of managed WordPress hosting. The dispute revolves around unauthorised use of the WordPress trademark, leading to a high-stakes legal battle involving cease-and-desist […]
Marvel and DC Lose Trademark on ‘Super Hero’
The End of a Super Era For decades, “Super Hero” was synonymous with characters that Marvel Comics and DC Comics came up with. With Spider-Man swinging through the streets of New York to Batman battling the Joker, superheroes have swept imaginations around the globe. However, a recent legal decision has ushered in a dramatic transformation […]
Erling Haaland’s Trademark Journey
Goals and Red Cards Erling Haaland is a name inextricably linked with success and, occasionally, controversy. As one of the world’s most prolific goal scorers, Haaland has built a reputation not only for his breathtaking ability on the pitch but also for his activities off it. Like many elite athletes, Haaland has sought to protect […]
Google Embroiled in Trademark Lawsuit Over ‘Gemini’ AI Branding
Even ‘Internet Giants’ like Google are not immune to trademark controversies! We often talk about how Google is one of the biggest advocates for trademarks, having implemented significant changes in their search engine and ads platform to prevent people from leveraging company names for personal gain. One common example of trademark abuse we used to […]
Katy Perry’s Trademark Showdown with an Australian Designer
When you think of trademarks, you might not immediately think of pop stars, but the case of Katy Perry versus Katie Perry serves as a fascinating example of the importance of protecting your brand—no matter who you are. This legal battle isn’t just about fame; it’s about the rights to a name and what happens […]
Oatly’s trademark mission continues…
Oatly are at it again! Within weeks of losing their High Court trademark battle against fellow oat milk producer Glebe Farm Foods, Oatly have started another trademark battle. The Times have reported that Oatly are taking on Nottingham-based Skinny Food Co over their use of the term ‘barista’ on its syrups and non-dairy creamers ‘Skinny […]
Red Bull challenge gin maker Bullards
A small Norwich based gin making business, founded in 1837, has become the target of energy drink super giant, Red Bull, over the use of the word ‘Bull’ in its name. Bullards have been told that there was a “likelihood of confusion on behalf of the public” as both brand names “include the term bull”. […]
Houston pop-up in hot water over SpongeBob theme
Viacom, the parent company of Nickelodeon, is suing Houston based pop-up restaurant claiming that it’s SpongeBob SquarePants theme in violation of multiple trademarks. Viacom claim that The Rusty Krab restaurant is blatant rip-off of the cartoons famous The Krusty Krab. The multiple trademarks include names, images, characters, and re-creations of details from the cartoon. Not […]
Manchester United to be renamed on Football Manager
Manchester United will be renamed on Football Manager games from FM22 onwards, following a trademark dispute with games giant Sega. The football club had argued that Sega and Sports Interactive infringed their trademark over the logo by not using the official Manchester United badge in the game, instead “replacing the club crest with a simplified […]
Oatly loose trademark battle against Glebe Farm Foods
Cambridgeshire Based Glebe Farm Foods have won their David and Goliath legal battle against the multimillion-pound Swedish makers of plant milk, Oatly. We wrote in June of how Oatly took legal action against Glebe Farm Foods, saying their product PureOaty took “unfair advantage” of their own drink. High Court Judge Nicholas Caddick QC ruled in […]