8/7/2019 Innocent Vitamins Refutes Innocent Drinks Trademark
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Innocent Vitamins Refutes Innocent Drinks Trademark
ClaimFounder, Dawn Reid, refutes the breach of trademark claim made
by Innocent Drinks and reveals the timeline of events from starting
the company, launching the product and applying for trademark
protection.
West Sussex, UK, March 09, 2011 -- Recent claims made by Fresh
Trading Ltd, manu
facturers of Innocent smoothies and majority-owned by The Coca
Cola Company, regarding trademark infringement by Innocent Vitamins
and Nutrition Ltd are refutedby the companys founder, Mrs Dawn
Reid. As pointed out to Fresh Tradings lawyers,Fresh Trading does
not have a trademark in Class 5 over the word innocent in respect
of vitamin supplements. It is noteworthy that Fresh Trading only
applied fora trademark covering vitamins at the end of January
2011, five months after Innocent Vitamins childrens multivitamin
was launched and available for sale.
Following substantial research into the childrens vitamin
market, in June 2010 Mrs Reid launched Innocent Vitamins and
Nutrition Ltd. ( http://www.innocentvitamins.co.uk ) She wanted to
bring to market a multivitamin and mineral supplement that she was
happy to give to her own children, completely free of any sugars,
sw
eeteners or additives. This idea meant departing from the market
norm which wasto produce chewable vitamins for children that often
contain additives, sugars,artificial sweeteners, bulking and
gelling agents.
The name chosen - Innocent Vitamins - reflects the absence of
additives and communicates the nature of the product and the choice
of name was, itself, entirelyinnocent. The use of a common English
word like innocent has been adopted by numerous brand owners and
attracts limited trademark protection as it is used to describe a
product of unadulterated nature.
The adoption by Fresh Trading of the common word innocent does
not give it a monopoly in relation to goods outside those for which
it has sought and obtained trademark protection. As pointed out to
Fresh Tradings lawyers, their recent applicat
ion for a trademark in Class 5 covering vitamins has all the
appearance of a business which regrets that it did not seek
trademark protection in relation to vitamin products, and has now
identified a product which might prevent it from diversifying into
that field. It is Innocent Vitamins opinion that Fresh Trading
nowseems to be claiming infringement unfairly in order to remove
this obstacle to their possible future business plans.
Innocent Vitamins and Nutrition (
http://www.innocentvitamins.co.uk ) has filedits own trademark
application in order to recognise the rights it has already
acquired under common law. Fresh Tradings lawyers wrote to Innocent
Vitamins and Nutrition on 14 Feb 2011, just two weeks after Fresh
Trading had applied for a Class 5 trademark in relation to
vitamins, claiming trademark infringement on a tra
demark that Fresh Trading has not been granted.
Innocent Vitamins maintains its position that there is no
confusion, or likelihood of confusion, with Innocent smoothies.
Both the point of sale packaging and
http://www.innocentvitamins.co.uk make it abundantly clear that the
product was developed by Mrs Reid, inspired by her two children as
depicted in photographs onthe product packaging, the company
website and advertising. Smoothie drinks andvitamin supplements in
a capsule form are two distinctly different products.
It is worth noting that in the UK and EU, there are many brand
owners using theword innocent as listed by the Intellectual
Property Office http://www.ipo.gov.ukfor the UK and
http://www.oami.europa.eu for European trademarks.
"I genuinely believe that my company can peacefully coexist with
Innocent smoothies, and I would be delighted to meet up with them
as we have already offered,"stated Mrs Reid. "My aim has always
been to bring a healthy, sugar and additive
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free vitamin supplement to market and I am delighted with the
positive responseI have received from parents, shop owners and,
most importantly, children."
"Innocent Vitamins and Nutrition Ltd has not been notified of
any court proceedings by Fresh Trading Ltd, nor is it the wish of
Innocent Vitamins to enter intocourt proceedings. We look forward
to existing harmoniously with Fresh Trading Ltd for many years to
come and wish them every success with their business."
About Innocent Vitamins and Nutrition Ltd:The company was
launched in June 2010 by Mrs Dawn Reid to provide a healthy, sugar
and additive free multivitamin with minerals for children. The
product, suitable for vegetarians and vegans, is available online
through its website http://www.innocentvitamins.co.uk, selected
supermarkets and independent health stores.
Press Release Submitted by: WorldWidePR.net
Press & Media Contact:Mrs Dawn ReidMother and Managing
Director
Innocent Vitamins and Nutrition LtdCamden Orchard, Lewes
RoadEast Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3TA - UK01342
[email protected]://www.innocentvitamins.co.uk
