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Iceland is Suing a Supermarket That's Using Its Name (cnn.com)
In a case which could puzzle copyright, trademark, and intellectual property offices, Iceland (the country) is not happy with a Britain supermarket chain, which is also called Iceland. From a CNN report:On Friday, Iceland, the country, took legal action against Iceland (the retailer), saying its enforcement of a trademark has prevented local firms from marketing their products using the name. Iceland Foods holds a Europe-wide trademark for the name Iceland, which it has been trading under for 46 years. "Iceland Foods has aggressively pursued and won multiple cases against Icelandic companies which use 'ICELAND' in their representation or as part of their trademark, even in cases when the products and services do not compete," the government said in a statement. The Icelandic government is now asking the European Union Intellectual Property Office to invalidate the trademark.
If you took the effort to read the intro, you'll know.
It's right there in the summary why they care.
Iceland Foods has been going after all kinds of companies from Iceland that try to setup shop in the EU using Iceland in their own company names. Iceland Foods is claiming trademark ownership over the word "Iceland" as used in the EU. Meaning, any Icelandic companies that try to get a foothold in the EU need to change the name they operate under or face a lawsuit from Iceland Foods.
And Iceland Foods is not related to the country of Iceland in any way, shape, or form.
Personally, I hope the Icelandic government prevails, and forces Iceland Foods to change their name to Ice Land Foods, thus allowing all their Icelandic companies to pay homage to their homeland in their new Iceland X company names. :)
I agree, and I hope the country wins. After all, what moron allowed a company to trademark the name of a country they don't own?