BSkyB has launched legal proceedings against the Luxembourg-based M7 Group over the use of the Skylink name in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Broadband TV News has learnt.
It is understood that BSkyB regards the use of the Skylink brand for its DTH operation as being an infringement of the SKY trademark. It could also reduce the amount of money Sky is able to obtain from licensing the brand to third parties such as Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland.
A Sky spokesperson told Broadband TV News: “We regard any unauthorised use of the Sky name as an infringement of our established SKY brand. As such, we continue to pursue legal proceedings against the M7 Group in relation to its satellite pay-TV platform Skylink. We remain vigilant in protecting the SKY brand and will continue to take appropriate action against those companies that seek to use our trademarks without consent.”
As reported in Broadband TV News last week, the High Court on London has already ruled in favour of the broadcaster in an alleged infringement of the SKY brand by Microsoft’s SkyDrive service. The case is currently subject to appeal.
Previous actions have seen cease and desist letters sent to three companies in the United States for using Sky branding in their websites. In February 2013 the Paris Court awarded us damages against Vortex S.A. for infringement of SKY trade marks on their website and radio station (SkyRock) in breach of earlier court judgments.
In August 2010, Sky was successful in its trade mark dispute with Skype. A number of other trademark applications have subsequently been blocked.
