Everton FC in battle with village farm shop over its name

[Tubey]

then act. Right now, the club picked a fight (whether right or wrong) that was bound to be a PR own goal. They've ended up looking bad in the national press. It's their job to avoid that happening.

They didn't, the legal team did. Probably so they could report they did something to deserve the retainer.

The club will back down on this now it's reached this stage. Basically the legal firm expected the business to fold to the demand immediately like most would, but the woman has been smart and got a PR goal out of it.

Fair play to her as she's legally fine on this.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

then act. Right now, the club picked a fight (whether right or wrong) that was bound to be a PR own goal. They've ended up looking bad in the national press. It's their job to avoid that happening.

Sometimes the legal team dont liaise with the PR team mate.

Who do you blame?

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Can't do that, it'd be like doing this.

So they trademark the colour Blue?

 

[l4toffee]

Small time from Everton this

 

[1966efc]

No doubt they'll be bringing out a How We Squashed The Little Business DVD.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

The plan has been leeked so give me time and lettuce sort it out then Donnie.

 

[Tubey]

So they trademark the colour Blue?

Nah the logo itself - trademark logo infringement by copying font/style.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Nah the logo itself - trademark logo infringement by copying font/style.

But the farm shop have copied Everton's font on the word 'Everton'

Based on what you've said in this thread, location is the trump card and so, a business could setup in Everton - and sell Everton branded items.

You're now saying the items the Everton shop in Everton that sell Everton shirts can't be Blue? Why's that? Everton don't trademark the colour Blue.

This is just a shop, in Everton (the location) selling shirts. They're legally fine, right?

 

[canuckblue]

The media portray it as a big bad football club taking on a small business.

In reality, the clubs retained legal team will be flagged of any trademark with 'Everton' and have made a small, reasonable request to make 'FARM SHOP' the same size as the word 'Everton'.

This small business as a point of principle has said no, and has then leveraged a small victory to promote themselves. Why else stand there with a football posing for the media?

"Is this what Elstone is doing?"
"Is this what the club are focussing on?"

Moan, moan, moan. No. It's a retained legal firm doing their job. Protecting the clubs trademark.

A retained legal firm probably scouring the world for such "infringements" and running up its bills. And we wonder where some of the club's money goes each year.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

If the business owner of the EVERTON farm shop reads this, please start selling Everton branded cheese. We'll all buy it.

 

[mightymoyes]

hope she wins her countersuit

 

[Tubey]

But the farm shop have copied Everton's font on the word 'Everton'

Based on what you've said in this thread, location is the trump card and so, a business could setup in Everton - and sell Everton branded items.

You're now saying the items the Everton shop in Everton that sell Everton shirts can't be Blue? Why's that? Everton don't trademark the colour Blue.

This is just a shop, in Everton (the location) selling shirts. They're legally fine, right?

I didn't say it can't be blue?

They haven't copied the font either. Side by side comparison.

If a shop in Everton sells shirts with a company logo on that incorporates that full logo and not just the word "Everton", then that's almost certainly fine. If it starts to impersonate Everton shirts, then it's different - but Everton don't have a monopoly on the word Everton; only in context to the trademark it retains. Just copyright the terms "Everton" and "Everton Football Club" does not mean it has carte blanche to interfere with a business based in somewhere called Everton which uses the term as a location descriptor for a farm shop.

 

[canuckblue]

In a way, this kinda mirrors our results on the pitch at times -- playing a team we should swat all over the shop and somehow losing or managing a draw.

 

[Tubey]

Now this is copyright infringement:

 

[Ruairi77]

Sometimes the legal team dont liaise with the PR team mate.

Who do you blame?

I'd actually lay the blame at the legal team.
I get that the club is legally protecting it's brand and I'm glad they are. But the legal team must realize that 'image' is very important to the club. It's something they usually do a great job with and, doubtless, helps with gaining sponsorship. They should weigh up the pros and cons of going after a farm shop in a village called Everton. There's a minor chance that they'll abuse the brand in the future but there's a major chance they'll use the threat of legal action from a premier league team to generate free publicity.
The legal team made the wrong decision and now we're chatting about it on here.