Globe’s 4G is Fake? Use of Tonino Lamborghini Brand on Broadband Stick May Result to Serious Trademark Infringement

If this is true, it’s going to be a serious trademark infringement, really.



You remember Globe Telecom’s broadband stick which is promised to offer “4G” speed, right? Well, I guess it’s unlikely you’ll forget Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini because aside from being a fresh product, the trade-name itself is too catchy. I personally like the name and I thought the marketing folks over at Globe’s headquarter are creative enough to coming up with, well, Tonino Lamborghini! It turned out though that Globe Telecom is apparently not authorized to use the brand on its broadband product.



Tonino Lamborghini SRL, an Italian company, claimed itself as the sole lawful owner worldwide of the trademark "Tonino Lamborghini" as seen below.

And the company has never manufactured or authorized anyone, specifically Globe Telecom, to manufacture a 4G broadband product, thus the 4G Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini stick is counterfeit. I can smell a lawsuit here, folks.



The press release which managed to get into our inbox was signed in August 3rd and reads:

4G Tatto Tonino Lamborghini Broadband Stick Is a Fake!



BOLOGNA, ITALY--(Marketwire - Aug. 23, 2011) - Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l., an Italy-based company which is the sole lawful owner worldwide of the trademark "Tonino Lamborghini" hereunder



http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/tonino_lamborghini_logo.jpg



wishes to inform its customers that unauthorized people are currently trading online and through Globe stores a "4G Tatto Tonino Lamborghini" broadband stick which is a counterfeited product.



Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. has never manufactured or authorized anyone to manufacture such a product which constitutes therefore a serious trademark infringement.



Moreover the advertising campaign "Feed your need for speed" featuring Marlon Stockinger, first Filipino to win a formula race in Europe, is deceitful and unlawful since it leads to a serious likelihood of confusion between two different and separate brands and businesses that is to say "Tonino Lamborghini" and "Automobili Lamborghini".



Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. shall take any legal action to protect the brand.



Yours faithfully,

Dott. Gian Luca Filippi

Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l.

CEO

A quick tour on Tonino Lamborghini SRL’s website reveals the company already existed in 1981, and with 3 decades of existence, it’s most likely that the company owns the Lamborghini trademark.



Globe Telecom has not yet released its comment on this issue. We’ll just keep you posted. [via]



Update: Globe Telecom has already released its official statement. Read here.

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