Thursday, August 05, 2004
Can you Copyright the Alphabet?
From the New York Post:
"THE W hotel chain is aggressively laying claim to the letter W, no matter what President Bush's nickname is. The group behind the chain, Starwood Ho tels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., has fired off legal let ters to two political merchandisers, de manding they re move the letter W — as in George W. Bush — from "apparel and accessories" they are selling. The of fending items include baseball hats and T-shirts "that mimic the trade dress of the W hotels, which has the effect of eroding the unique brand identity developed in the W logo."
Does the use of a W infringe on their brand identity? I have looked at both W, and they aren't even the same font style, let alone family. By W Hotel's reckoning, any company that uses a W as their primary icon, and there are a LOT of them - would be infringing on their trademarks. I say, ridiculous!
But I want to know what you think too. Take a look and tell me if see copyright infringement. While you are at it, take a look at W magazine's logo too:
W Hotels
W Hat
W Magazine
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