It is crunch time next Wednesday (24 June) in the ‘Battle of the Bands’ over a dispute between two ukulele orchestras over trademark and copyright infringements.
The dispute, which Bay Life documented in an article dated 25 September 2014, reaches its conclusion in the Chancery Division of the High Court in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court.
At the time Bay Life argued that the publication had been ‘duped’ into believing that the famous ukulele orchestra led by George Hinchliffe was to play in Eastbourne.
Amongst the points made was the fact that the impression given by the rival ukulele orchestra, marketed by a company based in Germany, indicated that they had played in the town on a previous occasion.
The publicity written on behalf of the German based outfit, that appeared in print in a brochure produced in good faith by Eastbourne Theatres, gave the impression that the orchestra was being ‘welcomed back’. In fact they had never played in the town before.
The opening paragraph of the publicity with regard to the tour was hastily re-written in subsequent descriptions of the tour that appeared online in the following weeks.
This was one of over 30 deceptions identified in the marketing of the rival orchestra in the publicity for their tour, which took place in October 2014.
The article written about the matter by Bay Life at the time was viewed widely across the country.
Today (June 19), The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain issued the following media release
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain—Media release 19 June 2015—British Justice set to decide who will win ‘The Battle of the Ukulele Orchestras’
On Wed 24th June 2015 at 10.30am in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, (Chancery Division of the High Court), at the Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London, Judge Hacon will give the judgement in the case of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain vs Yellow Promotion, the German company which produced “The United Kingdom Ukulele Orchestra”. The original GB band are currently celebrating 30 years in the business and have garnered an international and celebrity fan base which includes Michael Palin, Jon Snow, Madness, The Kaiser Chiefs, Amanda Palmer, David Bowie, Harry Hill and Bette Midler. They are accusing the much more recently formed Germany based group of passing off, as well as trademark and copyright infringements. If the GB band lose the case, there will be significant concerns about their future: not quite the 30th Anniversary present they were hoping for.
IMAGE CREDIT: THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN
