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Beyonce involved in Poisonous trademark battle
By Chris Cooke | Published on Thursday 9 November 2017
A legal squabble is ongoing between Beyonce and a company trying to trademark the brand Poison Ivy Park in the US. You might have noticed that brand is rather similar to Beyonce’s fashion line Ivy Park. Which could be confusing. But not so, says 47/72 Inc, the company behind the trademark application. You’re forgetting their use of the word ‘Poison’, see.
This ongoing trademark spat has been spotted by The Blast, a new celebrity website set up by some former TMZ staff members. It says that 47/72 Inc – which, apparently, also has a US trademark application pending for ’99 Problems’ and previously unsuccessfully tried to trademark ‘Swiftie’ – filed its application for the Poison Ivy Park mark last year, just as Beyonce was launching her fashion tie-up with Topshop.
The Blast also reports that the pop star’s legal team have, somewhat unsurprisingly, filed an objection to the 47/72 Inc application. The objection states that – if granted – the rival trademark will confuse consumers, especially if – as is proposed – it is used for a line of clothing. But 47/72 Inc has argued back that no one is ever going to be confused. Not in the slightest. They’re using the word ‘Poison’, remember.
In the latest round of legal wrangling, Beyonce’s team have now complained that 47/72 Inc has been slow to provide documents they require as part of the discovery phase of the legal battle. 47/72 Inc’s CEO has seemingly responded by saying he is suffering from depression and that that has caused delays in getting together the requested files.
The squabble continues.
