Aggravation with a Trademark Design

Aggravation with a Trademark Design
By his provocative bursting into the British House of Commons, the son of the pop-singer Bryan Ferry has upset the clothing firm French Connection. The 22-year old Otis had penetrated Parliament in September wearing a T-shirt which bore the inscription "FCUK YER BAN". With this action, he wanted to highlight his anger over the decision of Parliament to ban the traditional English fox-hunt. That Otis had resorted to using the "FCUK" trademark of the fashion label French Connection, was not bereft of consequences.

After Otis had later displayed his T-shirt outside a London police station, he received a letter from the lawyers of the clothing firm. According to reports in the British Sunday newspaper "The Observer", this contained a clear warning: Otis had, by his actions, inflicted irretrievable damage on the trademark of the fashion label as well as damaging copyright rights. Were he to dare to wear his T-shirt ever again in public, French Connection would be taking measures. "We are very proud of our logo and take these matters very seriously" explained a speaker from the company. Fox-hunt supporter Otis, who has already had to sit on the accused bench because of unruly behavior, is therefore threatening a further trademark dispute.

French Connection has had to concern itself with its brand protection twice in the last mo