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Wembley FC

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 10:48 am
by Kairdiff Exile
A few of you might have already seen the news stories about the wonderful people at the FA taking non-league Wembley FC to court in a potential ruinous trademark dispute. The FA claim that the public could be confused between signage to Wembley FC's ground and Wembley Stadium(!) and are insiting on the non-league club changing their logo and related signage. The club, for their part, say that when the logo was last changed the FA raised no objection at the time and this action could leave them bankrupt.

It doesn't take a huge leap of the imagination to envisage Oxford University suing Oxford United for having the temerity to share a similar name if a precedent was set by this case!

If, like me, you think that the FA have got their priorities seriously wrong and should be supporting rather than threatening grassroots clubs like Wembley, do take a moment to sign and share the online petition. I'm often sceptical about whether petitions can change things, but this has attracted 7,000 signatures in less than 24hrs and the bad press may well be the only thing that makes the FA think again.

Re: Wembley FC

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 2:10 pm
by Dr Bob
Already over 10000.

Re: Wembley FC

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 2:55 pm
by Old Abingdonian
I have signed. What staggers me is that this appalling organisation not only considers it right to pursue this trivial issue, but seems blind to the awful PR that will follow. Do they never learn?

The only way I can comprehend their consistent mismanagement (at the politest) is that somehow, when staff are appointed to the FA, they gain a conviction of their own superiority, and right to act in their own self-interest.

Re: Wembley FC

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 3:27 pm
by Geoff
I've signed. It's over 11,000 now.

Re: Wembley FC

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 7:43 pm
by Radley Rambler
Also signed and sent onto the Raging Fever FC email list.

Re: Wembley FC

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 8:19 pm
by Kernow Yellow
I reckon the FA will back down - the publicity isn’t good.

I also suspect there’s more to this story than meets the eye. Presumably Wembley FC have been using their name on a badge since their inception in the forties without the FA being bothered. The part of their recent history where Budweiser start sponsoring them and bring in a load of celebrities might well be a ploy by the beer giant to get some ‘Wembley’ kudos on the cheap. Shortly after they stopped sponsoring the FA Cup! Doesn’t this badge that the FA object to date from that era? Have they deliberately separated ‘Wembley’ from ‘FC’ at that point?

That’s not to say that I think the FA are justified, nor that Wembley FC shouldn’t have a right to use the word ‘Wembley’ as they see fit.

Re: Wembley FC

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 10:47 am
by Radley Rambler
Up to 17,000 now - good stuff.

Come the revolution.......

Re: Wembley FC

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 11:05 am
by Hog
I visited Wembley FC with Oxford City back in the day. Even allowing for any development they may have done during the intervening 35-40 years I can't believe anyone could mistake one for the other!

Re: Wembley FC

Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2017 3:34 am
by SmileyMan
Old Abingdonian wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2017 2:55 pm I have signed. What staggers me is that this appalling organisation not only considers it right to pursue this trivial issue, but seems blind to the awful PR that will follow.
Trademarks aren't like copyright - if you don't defend them then you can lose the right to hold them. Which quite often leads to situations where a big firm is forced to "bully" a little one, because if they didn't then a larger rival could cite the precedent and steal the "bully's" trademarks.

Having said that, the logos are nothing similar apart from the word Wembley, which is obviously regional. One is a football club, the other is a sports stadium where football is one of the sports played. Frankly the fault lies with the EUIPO who should have rejected the claim.