Hugo Boss is at the centre of yet another high-profile copyright dispute after opposing an artist’s application to trade mark a slogan featuring the word “Boss”.
According to the BBC News report, John Charles, an artist from Huyton, filed an application with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in July this year to protect his “popular” tag line, “Be boss, be kind”.
But the application to trade mark the slogan, which is used across the artist’s clothing line, has been opposed by the global fashion house Hugo Boss.
Lawyers representing Hugo Boss said the company will block the application but would drop the action if Mr Charles withdrew the application and ceased selling items featuring the word “Boss”.
Commenting on the dispute, Mr Charles said he was “totally shocked” to receive a letter from solicitors on behalf of Hugo Boss.
“I’m just one guy in Merseyside I’m no threat to an international business. I’ve got a different logo, theirs is in caps [capital letters],” he said
“When you say the word ‘boss’ in Liverpool everyone knows what you mean [slang for great] and you are not talking about clothes.”
He added: “We always wanted to finish positively which is why we said ‘Be boss, be kind’.”
A Hugo Boss spokesperson said the company was “open to a mutual agreement”.
“We appreciate the family’s engagement in the currently difficult times and are open for a mutual agreement here. We will be in touch with them directly.”
The dispute marks the second time this year Hugo Boss has been the subject of an intellectual property battle, after being accused of trade mark “bullying” by UK comedian Joe Lycett. The high-profile dispute saw the comedian legally change his name by deed poll to “Hugo Boss”. He has since reverted to his birth name.
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