JD Sports takes legal action against NZ startup
UK sportswear group JD Sports, which owns the Canterbury of New Zealand brand, has launched legal action against a small New Zealand startup for trademark infringement.
The firm has opposed Auckland-based clothing firm I Love Ugly’s application for a trade mark in Europe, the European Union trademarks office shows.
Canterbury controls the intellectual property of the Canterbury of New Zealand brand, maker of the Canterbury rugby shirt. It is understood that JD Sports believes the I Love Ugly menswear trade mark is infringing its Canterbury ‘Uglies’ brand that includes rugby shirts, T-shirts, pants and hoodies.
Canterbury opposes I Love Ugly’s trademark application on the grounds of “likelihood of confusion, unfair advantage and detriment to distinctiveness or repute, and earlier non-registered trade mark and right to prohibit use of later trademark under national law”.
I Love Ugly applied for trademark registration with the European Union office on March 16 2011, and Canterbury filed opposition in July. Sources reveal that over the past month, JD Sports has withdrawn legal action against I Love Ugly in Australia and New Zealand.
I Love Ugly’s founders, Barnaby Marshall and Valentin Ozich, sell their products to 25 retailers in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, and Britain. The company has secured a deal to supply European online retailer ASOS.
