IMPORTANT INDUSTRY NEWS!

We have recently discovered that high street giant Ann Summers successfully Trade Marked the term 'Rampant Rabbit' on 4th June 2003. Anyone using this trade mark to promote their products should consider changing it immediately to avoid litigation.

Those of you who have already been approached by Ann Summers lawyers regarding this matter can find further information at this web site www.intellectual-property.gov.uk. I am no expert but from what I can see from the information available is that anyone caught using a registered trade mark without prior knowledge that the mark was registered would fall into the category of 'Unintentional Trade Mark Infringement'.

We have already spoken to one company who have been approached by Ann Summers lawyers. This company was asked to submit confidential information about their trading relationships and was also asked to part with £650+vat to cover Ann Summers costs. Before you part with any money or confidential information you should consult a solicitor who specialises in intellectual property.

The most common course of action when a company is caught in an 'Unintentional Trade Mark Infringement' is to simply be asked to stop using the disputed trade mark.