Home textiles company, Cathay Home Inc, has withdrawn its application to the US Patent and Trademark Office for the mark “Swift Home” following pop star Taylor Swift’s objection against its registration.
Cathay Home intended to use the “Swift Home” mark for a range of bedding products, applying for a figurative mark where the word ‘Swift’ is stylised in a cursive font. Taylor Swift’s legal representatives said that the mark would mislead customers into the false belief that the Swift had endorsed their products and would therefore take advantage of her goodwill and recognition. Additionally, the way that the word “Swift” is stylised in the mark closely resembles the star’s trademarked cursive mark for “Swift”, further exacerbating the alleged likelihood of confusion.
Swift famously has more than 300 trade marks, filed across multiple jurisdictions which cover her name and signature in relation to a plethora of goods, including bedding.
When asked why they withdrew the application, Cathay Home said that the mark was not essential to its business and that after evaluating the circumstances, such decision was “commercially sensible”.
If you have any questions on the above, or if you need any advice or support in respect of your own Intellectual Property, please do not hesitate to contact the team at McDaniels Law on 0191 281 4000 or legal@mcdanielslaw.com.
