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Judge tells AT&T to stop infringing on T-Mobile's magenta logo

Judge tells AT&T to stop infringing on T-Mobile's magenta logo

Posted: 08 Feb 2014, 14:41, by Alan F.

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Tags : T-Mobile -T-Mobile + AT&T -AT&T +

Hilarious tweet from T-Mobile CEO John Legere from back in August

Last August, T-Mobile filed a suit against AT&T for the latter's use of a plum coloring for the trademark employed for its Aio prepaid subsidiary. T-Mobile stated that it was too close to the magenta color that has become synonymous with the nation's fourth largest carrier. On Saturday, the Federal Court agreed with T-Mobile that the logo could confuse some people and has ordered AT&T to stop using magenta or a similar coloring for its Aio division.

Aio is not allowed to use the color for advertising and marketing in stores, on websites and social media. The decision was made after a three-day hearing. The court sided with T-Mobile's position that it is identified by the magenta color and that such use of the magenta color is protected under trademark law. AT&T has already announced that once its deal to buy Leap Wireless closes, it will drop the Aio name anyway, making the ruling not as important for AT&T as it might have been otherwise.

We would also like to point out once again, the absolutely hilarious tweet that T-Mobile CEO John Legere sent out on the day that the suit was announced last summer.

A Federal Court has ruled that Aio can no longer use the plum color for its logo

source: T-Mobile via TmoNews

23 Comments

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posted on 08 Feb 2014, 16:04 6

1. tedkord (Posts: 14123; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

This is how ridiculous the system has gotten. A goddamned color can be trademarked, even if it's just close to the color of another company logo. Sickening, and I don't even like AT&T.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 16:24 10

4. g2a5b0e (Posts: 3814; Member since: 08 Jun 2012)

It's not like T-Mobile sued Barbie, Playboy, Victoria Secrets Pink line, or the Breast Cancer Awareness Society. They sued Aio, another wireless company that decided to use a hue similar to their trademarked version. What's the point of trademarking a color if you're not going to protect your property? And also, let's be honest. This wasn't a completely innocent act by AT&T. Companies spend hundreds & thousands of hours coming up with marketing schemes & strategies. AT&T clearly had T-Mobile in mind when they came up with this color & the reason was obviously to try to possibly confuse customers. Now, it probably didn't work for most. But, even if they can pull 1 out of 10, that's money they're making that T-Mobile's not. It was definitely a ploy by AT&T & I side with T-Mobile on this one.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 16:31 2

5. Ant34 (Posts: 193; Member since: 10 Aug 2013)

Why was a color even allowed to be trademarked?

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 16:51 5

8. g2a5b0e (Posts: 3814; Member since: 08 Jun 2012)

Companies do it all the time to protect their brand image. It really only applies to that particular industry. Magenta is a huge part of T-Mobile's brand image. Their suit would have no merit if they tried to sue a clothing store using the same color, but another wireless company that might be trying to cash in on their success? It only makes sense.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 17:49 3

12. tedkord (Posts: 14123; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

It doesn't matter who they sued. It wasn't because the AIO logo had similar wording or shape. I was because it used a similar (not matching) color. Colors are a part of nature - no one can invent a color. No one should be able to trademark a color. The AIO logo looks nothing like the T-Mobile logo. This is just another indicator of how stupid and broken the system is.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 23:14 2

19. PapaSmurf (Posts: 10457; Member since: 14 May 2012)

AT&T purposely did this to poke at T-Mobile. I'm pretty sure if T-Mobile used blue, AT&T would so the exact same thing. I don't feel sorry for AT&T at all.

posted on 09 Feb 2014, 12:51

23. tedkord (Posts: 14123; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

And that would be ridiculous, too.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 17:10 3

9. PBXtech (Posts: 1032; Member since: 21 Oct 2013)

http://www.businessinsider.com/can-you-identify-these-12-brands-by-their-trademarked-colors-alone-2012-2?op=1

I've also heard Coca Cola red and the blue in the Miami Dolphins uniform is also trademarked. Rather stupid if you ask me.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 17:20 1

10. g2a5b0e (Posts: 3814; Member since: 08 Jun 2012)

See comment #8.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 17:45 2

11. tedkord (Posts: 14123; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

We saw comment number 8. It didn't make anything about this lawsuit less stupid.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 19:43 1

14. g2a5b0e (Posts: 3814; Member since: 08 Jun 2012)

Well, if you had any kind of business sense whatsoever or even just owned a business of your own, you might understand. People will always be trying to figure out a way to get at your money. It needs to be protected.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 20:39 1

15. tedkord (Posts: 14123; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

Bullsh*t. If someone can take your customers just by using a similar color to your logo, you're not a very good businessman.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 21:26 3

16. g2a5b0e (Posts: 3814; Member since: 08 Jun 2012)

I don't think that's what it is. You underestimate how dumb the average person is. Not that the average commenter on Phone Arena is a good example, but the average person in general doesn't comment on tech websites or even frequent them at all. They don't necessarily know the difference between AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon & what they provide. Those are the people being targeted by this sort of thing.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 22:03 1

17. tedkord (Posts: 14123; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

Sorry, I don't buy it. I could see if the logos were similar. They're not even close. It's a color, and not even the same color but a close one. Anyone who could be confused by a similar color in a completely different logo isn't dumb, they're brain dead.

And, if these consumers don't know the difference between those companies and what the provide, then the logos don't matter to them. Either way, being able to trademark a color is a stupid as being able to patent oxygen.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 16:19 2

2. Ant34 (Posts: 193; Member since: 10 Aug 2013)

Are you (expletive) kidding me?

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 16:23 5

3. bkzebraphone (Posts: 37; Member since: 12 Dec 2012)

Oh look. This magenta color looks like tmobile magenta but it says AIO wireless. I'm so confused. Idk if it's AIO or tmobile. Fml.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 16:34 1

6. corporateJP (Posts: 2458; Member since: 28 Nov 2009)

Stupidity is out of control these days.

It won't matter anyway by time summer rolls around, because AIO will be merged into Cricket.

Enjoy the new shade of teal until then.

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 16:40 1

7. -box- (Posts: 3991; Member since: 04 Jan 2012)

I thought AIO was using a different color anyway?

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 19:27

13. Topcat488 (Posts: 1396; Member since: 29 Sep 2012)

AT&T just needs to wait a couple of months and the T-Mobile color will change to the "Yellow, Black, & White" of Sprint/Softbank anyway. O.0

posted on 08 Feb 2014, 22:44 3

18. Joshing4fun (Posts: 1237; Member since: 13 Aug 2010)

I actually agree with this. When i see all ads for phones in magenta i just assume its Tmobile. Out of all the colors, why would ATT pick magenta too if there was not malcontent?