Trelise Cooper. Photo / Herald on Sunday
Trelise Cooper, fresh from an out-of-court settlement over the use of her name with fellow designer Tamsin Cooper, is now embroiled in another similar dispute with Central Otago's Treliske organic farm.
Trelise Cooper objected to Arrowtown-based Tamsin Cooper registering her name as a trademark and got into a
20-month legal battle which she finally settled amicably last year, confident consumers could differentiate the two brands.
Ms Cooper, whose company turns over more than $15 million a year, said in July she didn't want a negative focus, but that might be unavoidable.
The organic farm business disputes the fashion designer's right to use her first name as a trademark on goods.
The Independent Financial Review reported Ms Cooper registered the name Trelise as a trade mark in 2006 with IPONZ (the Intellectual Property Organisation of New Zealand) despite similarity to Treliske, the farm name registered in 1993.
Treliske has a large organic farm businesses producing certified organic wool and knitwear, beef and lamb which it exports.
Treliske director Jackie Aitchison said having the Trelise trade mark in the marketplace would inhibit the farm's business, which was about to sell products designed by another well-known name.
Ms Aitchison argues IPONZ had been negligent not taking into account potential confusion between the two trade marks.
"We have had Treliske as our farm name since 1946, three generations of Aitchison. We think that name actually belongs to us."
She filed for the Trelise trade mark to be made invalid.
Trelise Cooper chief executive Alex Brandon had contacted Treliske to discuss the issue but Ms Aitchison said the case was non-negotiable.
Treliske had until March to present supporting information and request a ruling the Trelise trade mark was invalid.
She was now resigned to taking the case to court.
- NZPA
