AN wins passing off case against Express
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Wednesday 11 June 2003
(London - June 11 2003) - The High Court in London today ruled that Express newspapers could not use the name Evening Mail, London Evening Mail or The Mail as a name of any newspaper.
The court said that doing so would infringe Associated's registered trademark rights and would pass off the new title as being connected to the Mail titles.
A Spokesman for Associated Newspapers said: "This case is about a threat to a core Mail brand. Associated newspapers could not contemplate allowing its goodwill and reputation to be hijacked by a rival publisher.
"We regard this as a transparent attempt by Express Newspapers to piggy-back off the Mail name. The judgement means that (Express proprietor) Mr Desmond cannot use the 'Mail' name as the title of any London newspapers.
"We are delighted with the judge's ruling and the fact that he has enforced the Mail group's trademarks and accepted that there would have been confusion and damage to the Mail brand.
On Monday the judge will make his detailed order and rule on costs.