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WWE News
WWE News: Muscle Flex exploring lawsuit options against WWE for the use of "Raw" branding Jun 29, 2009 - 11:12:51 AM
Muscle Flex issued a press release today stating they are poised to file a lawsuit against WWE seeking damages over the use of the "Raw" brand name in Canada.
Muscle Flex claims they have a trademark right to the brand "In the Raw" and claims WWE has caused confusion in the marketplace with its use of "Raw" to market products.
From their press release: "Muscle Flex Inc. is in the process of exploring any and all remedies with regards to damages and past trademark infringement by the WWE in connection to their unauthorized use of 'RAW' in Canada."
Muscle Flex says they "successfully defended" their trademark right to "In the Raw" in June 2008. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office ruled that certain items in WWE's trademark application were "confusingly similar and thus lacked distinctiveness" from MF's registered trademark. The file on that particular ruling is expected to close in July 2009.
Caldwell's Tongue-in-Cheek Analysis: If forced to drop "Raw" from marketing in Canada, the simple solution for WWE would simply to re-name the Raw brand "KFC" and be done with it. It would be like MLB, NBA, and NFL teams grabbing corporate sponsorship for the name of their stadium. KFC Monday Nights.
Link:Muscle Flex press release.
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