Topshop owner Sir Philip Green is contesting the use of his trademark on the Asos marketplace website. The British retail tycoon reportedly sent a letter advised by solicitors to Asos warning that unless it stopped using the Topshop name on its website he would sue, stated the Daily Telegraph.
Asos Marketplace is an online fashion sales platform, much like eBay, where users and boutiques can sell clothes and accessories to anyone who is interested. Customers may sell new or used clothing on its website, including clothing from Arcadia’s flagship brand Topshop, or any other brand.
Sir Philip claims Asos Marketplace uses the Topshop’s brand name too often and too prominently and that the website gives the impression that it sells new Topshop clothing, despite the fact that no such agreement is in place between the retailers.
Green told the Telegraph: “I feel Asos misrepresents our brand, which is registered to us. They claim to sell new Topshop clothes when they don’t. That’s an infringement of our trademark. This is not the first time it has happened. They would love to sell Topshop. They’ve had many conversations with us, but I’ve always said we are not interested. We have our own website.”
Asos chief executive Nick Robertson replied by maintaining: “A shopper might well have a new item and then they are selling it straight away. That does happen. This is no different from eBay. We will look at his complaint carefully but to my knowledge I have created a platform which allows people to recycle their wardrobe.”
Link to article: http://www.fashionunited.co.uk/fashion-news/fashion/topshop-and-asos-in-trademark-clash-2012060515012