Citigroup Sues AT&T For Saying 'Thanks' To Customers (techdirt.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Citigroup has a trademark on "THANKYOU" and is currently using it to sue ATT for using "Thanks." Ars Technica reports: "Who knew? Banking giant Citigroup has trademarked 'THANKYOU' and is now suing technology giant ATT for how it says thanks to its own loyal customers. This is 'unlawful conduct' amounting to wanton trademark infringement, Citigroup claims in its federal lawsuit." Citigroup doesn't appear to be gracious in its branding: Despite actual knowledge of Citigroup's substantial use of and exclusive rights in the THANKYOU Marks, Citigroup's use of the marks in connection with ATT co-branded credit cards, and Citigroup's concerns regarding ATT's proposed trademarks, ATT launched a customer loyalty program under the trademarks "thanks" and "ATT thanks" on or about June 2, 2016. ATT's use of the "thanks" and "ATT thanks" trademarks is likely to cause consumer confusion and constitutes trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition in violation of Citigroup's rights. Citigroup therefore seeks to enjoin ATT's infringing conduct and to recover damages based on the injury ATT's conduct has caused to Citigroup as well as ATT's unjust enrichment. In April, ATT applied to trademark "ATT THANKS." Citigroup wants that trademark to be rejected because it thinks that proposed trademark is "confusingly similar to Citigroup's "THANKYOU Marks," according to its lawsuit.

Comments

I Love You

[Anonymous Coward]

Welcome to COSTCO, I Love You.

Idiocracy at its best!

Re:I Love You

[arglebargle_xiv]

AT&T should just trademark "Fuck you", which is what they're really doing to customers. I don't think Citigroup would object, since their real motto, "Screw you", sounds substantially different.

Re:I Love You

[slashrio]

No, they don't say "Thank you", Citigroup says "Thankyou".
If AT&T would just say "Thank you", there wouldn't be any problem.
To me it's a mystery why anyone would intentionally make an error, but hey, that's why it's a big company:
The bigger the more stupid they behave.

Re:I Love You

[Ivoch]

He makes a WHOOOSH thousand dollars.

Say "Citigroup" instead of "Thank You"

[Hasaf]

I think I am going to give a shot at saying "Citigroup" instead of thank-you. Them , when people look at me with a dumfounded expression, I can explain that Citigoup has established ownership over the words "Thank You" and "thanks."

Citigroup for reading my silly idea.

Re:Say "Citigroup" instead of "Thank You"

[ZipK]

Citigroup for sharing.

Re:Say "Citigroup" instead of "Thank You"

[AmiMoJo]

I first encountered Citygroup in Japan, where it's pronounced "shitty group".

In Related News...

[Anonymous Coward]

Comcast is just waiting for someone to infringe on their "Fuck You" to customers trademark.

Re:In Related News...

[wbr1]

Followed closely by Microsoft's "Bend over, it will only hurt a little." rewards plan.

Citibank or AT&T?

[theskipper]

Even the devil is having trouble picking sides on this one. Mainly because it would mean favoring one child over the other.

Re:Citibank or AT&T?

[Yvan256]

We're very sorry, but we trademarked the word sorry decades ago.

Signed,
Canada.

Customer confusion

[Livius]

ATT's use of the "thanks" and "ATT thanks" trademarks is likely to cause consumer confusion

It's true, people are surprised and confused to hear the word "thanks" coming from either of those corporations.

Re:Clickbait title

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm going to trademark â & âoe and charge $10 each time a miss-configured news site uses it.

Re:This is quite possibly...

[Anonymous Coward]

Wait until they sue Kansas City, New York City and all the other infringers of the Citi trademark.

Re:Thank you for being a friend

[slashrio]

And that from an anonymous cow-ard...