YouView may have to change name

YouView may have to change its name after losing a High Court appeal.

YouView were appealing against an earlier trademark decision made back in May by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), after they were approached by Total Ltd, owners of the Your View trademark.

The IPO had already stated that the similarity in the two firms names ‘could cause confusion’ and had refused YouView’s initial trademark requests. That decision has been upheld yesterday by the High Court.

“YouView has no intention of changing its name,” a YouView representative said. “This matter is complex and subject to a number of on-going legal actions and will be settled in the courts.”

Total Ltd is prepared to continue to defend their trademark according to managing director Stuart Baikie, stating they had “every right and intention to take further action to protect our brand. We will soon be taking further infringement action in the High Court, likely to include seeking an injunction limiting their use of the brand, damages and costs, as we believe that they are still acting without regard to our registered mark and business interests.”