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Wednesday, 18 March 2015

Daily Times threatens to sue Premium Times over use of 'Times' in its brand name

The management of Folio Communications Limited, owners of Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, have threatened to drag online news portal, Premium Times to court over the use of the word 'Times' in its brand name. According to a letter sent to Premium Times management, the solicitors to Folio Communications Limited, Elias Mordi & Co, cautioned Premium Times to desist from using the word 'Times', adding that Daily Times has since inception enjoyed goodwill from people who have come to know it with the word 'Times.

The lawyers said the continued use of the word by Premium Times would amount to them enjoying their clients goodwill which they took years to build...


The letter in part reads
"Our client is the publisher of the Daily Times, Weekend Times, Sunday Times and Business Times amongst other newspapers and special publication. In Nigeria, the word ‘Times’ when associated with any newspaper publication has come to have a secondary meaning as denoting our client’s publication by the reading public, and that is the extent of the goodwill our client enjoys in the word ‘Times’ as a matter of trade name. Your publication, ‘PREMIUM TIMES’ has a tendency of appropriating our client’s extant goodwill as already explained above and constitute actionable passing off. We, therefore, demand that you forthwith cease and desist from using the ‘TIMES’ in your future publications.”.
The letter stated that failure to adhere to this directive would make Fodio communications institute legal process to sue Premium Times.

The Managing Editor of Premium Times, Mojid Musiliku however says they are seeking the legal advice of their team in order to know the next line of action.
at 3/18/2015 05:21:00 pm

53 comments:

  1. AbokiDaWarriBoy18 March 2015 at 17:23

    Original Gobe, ayakata!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:58

      Wht r they waiting for?

      Delete
    2. Unknown18 March 2015 at 19:55

      Okay, Suing time(s)

      Order for your beautiful bedspread @ 79AEFD3B. Delivery available nationwide.

      Delete
    3. Juleslouis18 March 2015 at 20:30

      Hian! Everyone is now going to court.

      Delete
    4. Davido's driver18 March 2015 at 20:33

      For the election to be over..

      Delete
  2. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 17:23

    Let the legal wahala begin...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 17:24

    AND D TWO ARE FIGTHIN FOR TYMS TYM...OKAY...TOMJERRYSWIT

    ReplyDelete
  4. Subomi18 March 2015 at 17:24

    They are high, do they own the word ‘times’

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. obiora18 March 2015 at 20:12

      Are this dumb? Why didn't you ask MTN if they own those alphabets

      Delete
  5. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:24

    Jobless people! Instead of them trying to build and strengthen their irrespective brand, they're busy sueing each other ass...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:26

    Senseless issue not my problem.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Peejay18 March 2015 at 17:27

    Join me in thanking God. He just showed His mighty hand in the life of my son. I can't stop praising His name.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:27

    Na wa o
    All for times

    ReplyDelete
  9. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:28

    Good! Good!! Good!!! Enjoying goodwill indeed. Let them battle each other@court. Surviver of d fitest shall surface by d end of d day.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:30

    Okay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lily of Nigeria18 March 2015 at 17:50

      You can't nau..
      Under the law of Intellectual property, the use of a name is permitted to be copied by anyone. It is only when that name has gotten established recognition. Like a popular newspaper column say aunty Caro. Ehen, you can sue. But you can't sue for use of a single word o. See the case of EXTON Mobil v. EXXON Insurance.
      I am a final year Law student and we treated this issue in class last semester.

      *ThrowsMicAndWalksAway*


      Copy my blog link to your browser

      www.iblogwithgrace.blogspot.com

      Delete
    2. Unknown18 March 2015 at 19:55

      Lol..U feel smart now don't ya. I could "shmell" the whole "I am a potential lawyer" air in your comment. You made a good argument tho. Good point. But lemme not fault your argument. Check your Laws and arguments again.

      Delete
    3. Lily of Nigeria19 March 2015 at 00:30

      Just as I have aired mine, you are entitled to your own opinion. My argument is in line with my lecture guide/note. Thank you for your own kind opinion Sir. Now, have a seat.

      Delete
  11. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:31

    Na today them dey realize am, mcheeeeeeeeew. Linda take note!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:31

    I find this funny tho. Did they buy the "times"


    OKORO UPGRADED**

    ReplyDelete
  13. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:32

    Na today them dey realize am, mcheeeeeeeeew. Linda take note!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:32

    As dem no get Work Zi now!!....

    ReplyDelete
  15. yawanow18 March 2015 at 17:32

    just like saying "laura ikeji's blog" Linda will unleash her lawyers.
    Daily times have come along way before premium times. Daily times mgt should step up in order to secure their brand name. Afterall its not how far but how well.

    ReplyDelete
  16. BONARIO NNAGS18 March 2015 at 17:35

    Lol can you imagine.
    I guess the Queen of England should sue them both for using an English word.

    ~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA LUMIA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 17:50

      Your comments are full of insight!

      Delete
  17. snowflix18 March 2015 at 17:37

    Lol. Quite funny but they have a point tho. #onelovefromsnow#

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 17:38

    Dem franchise d word times? Mtcheeew dem neva ready

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 17:38

    VeRULE Says-headlines

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 17:41

    Joblessness overload

    ReplyDelete
  21. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:42

    Joblessness

    ReplyDelete
  22. nennye18 March 2015 at 17:42

    When New york Times has not Sued Daily times for using" Times " .

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 17:43

    This is very silly, very very silly. New York Times have been in existence long before Daily Times was established, so why is Daily Times crying about the name Premium Times. The name 'Times' is not exclusive to them.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Carina Kikelomo Jacob18 March 2015 at 17:49

    That's their problem.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 17:51

    They can only threaten, nothing will happen. this kind of action in law is called "Passing Off". it is made when use you another person's brand name which is so closely similar and also calculated to mislead the public. e.g "Nigeria Chemist" and "Niger chemist"... but "Daily Times" and "premium Times"? A reasonable Man would not be misled. Plus "Times" seems to used by many Newspapers.

    ReplyDelete
  26. @gabstine18 March 2015 at 17:56

    LMAO at Daily Times talking about 'goodwill'. Is it goodwill that protects a brand name or by its registration? If by now, Daily Times hasn't registered their brand name, they really goofed big time!

    You don't use goodwill to register a brand other than registering it as your intellectual property! Abeg, Daily Times don enter one chance jooooor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 18:11

      No dummy.In Nigeria you are not required to register a name to be entitled to copyright protection.You may do a notification with NCC if you are minded to but it is not compulsory. Having said that there is no iota of similarity between the names and the word ' Times ' in this instance by its nature, design and mark was not infringed upon by Premium Times. Pls keep your comments to the sleazier stuff 😐

      Delete
  27. Unknown18 March 2015 at 17:57

    I dey laugh (in Obj's voice).

    ReplyDelete
  28. Unknown18 March 2015 at 18:23

    That's their f**k**g bizness

    ReplyDelete
  29. Unknown18 March 2015 at 18:23

    Premium Times Olenla

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 18:27

    Click n start earning for real. http://www.sfi4.com/15683466/FREE

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 19:13

    I guess The Times Magazine should sue all new agencies that have 'times' in their names.

    This I plain ludicrous.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 19:17

    So Financial Times too can go about suing everyone. It's seeking attention to make the paper with an ugly mast head. They want a piece of election jamboree

    ReplyDelete
  33. Unknown18 March 2015 at 19:27

    After they sue premium times, they should be on the lookout for NEWYORK TIMES.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Giwa Damilola18 March 2015 at 19:38

    lol............dailytime should go and rest work hard on their advert -Pst.chekekeleke

    ReplyDelete
  35. Linjust18 March 2015 at 19:50

    Wizkid Flaunt`s Hot Lady With Massive Behind Modelling His ‘Star Boy’ Snapback

    ReplyDelete
  36. Unknown18 March 2015 at 20:32

    lmao, they don't own the word naw. Mbok!

    www.udokajane.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. ary18 March 2015 at 21:00

    This case just somehow reminds me of Cynthia Morgan and is it Kween's bruhaha! You can lay claim to something you didn't create! It cazint happen!!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 21:23

    Is Daily Times still existing? ....................Funny Times

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous18 March 2015 at 23:01

    Buahahaha!!! Broke mofos! Didn't even know Daily Times still exists. Now that Premium Times is becoming popular you want to quash their success. I guess your asses need to be sued by the papers like The Times (UK) that has been around since the 1700s or New York Times since 1800s. GTFOH! Premium Times let them sue and waste whatever is left of their dignity.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Unknown19 March 2015 at 12:31

    Lol, new drama

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous19 March 2015 at 12:59

    The original international one: Times magazine should sue both of them for using their goodwill. Mscheew.

    ReplyDelete

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of Linda Ikeji.

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