Free Postcode Lottery being forced to change their name

jonesMUFCforever

We as in compers who check daily just to see if we have won?

tain

bertiewhite wrote: »

Who's "we"? Are you connected to FPL?

Haha slightly paranoid post this!

tain

Silverjan wrote: »

We need all the help we can get so please sign to show your feelings about this travesty

https://www.change.org/p/people-s-postcode-lottery-save-our-free-postcode-lottery-e61d13f5-b99c-4bda-af6e-bfcab594b100

I've signed it, but I'm not sure if there is anything that can be done via change.org.

If the People's Postcode Lottery have a genuine complaint, they have a right to defend that. And even if they haven't (which I'm very sure they don't), they have their legal right for a court to decide that. I just hope it costs them a lot of money.

tain

I'd say a much more effective course of action would be to spread the word that no one should use the People's Postcode Lottery again until they drop their legal action. Bad press and lost customers means far more than a petition that holds no weight.

jonesMUFCforever

tain wrote: »

I've signed it, but I'm not sure if there is anything that can be done via change.org.

If the People's Postcode Lottery have a genuine complaint, they have a right to defend that. And even if they haven't (which I'm very sure they don't), they have their legal right for a court to decide that. I just hope it costs them a lot of money.

So you agree with the majority that the argument from postcode lottery is flawed but you want it to cost them a lot of money?
Where do you think the money will come from - the directors personal funds or money that could have gone to good causes?

The only protest I can make is to cancel my subscription to them which I have done.

tain

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

So you agree with the majority that the argument from postcode lottery is flawed but you want it to cost them a lot of money?
Where do you think the money will come from - the directors personal funds or money that could have gone to good causes?

The only protest I can make is to cancel my subscription to them which I have done.

It will come from the profits of the company?

I don't think their donations to charity are a goodwill gesture - I think they're a legal obligation.

If all you want to do is give to charity, then the People's Postcode Lottery is very very much NOT it. You'd be better off giving direct to charity, then using what is left over on a roulette wheel. Far better odds, and a guarantee that your money goes where you want it to.

tain

If the PPL can just hold their charitable donations to ransom, then who is stopping them attacking anyone they feel fit? It's ridiculous to suggest that you can't impact their profits because they'll just screw over charities in turn.

jdsaint

If the People's Postcode Lottery have a genuine complaint, they have a right to defend that. And even if they haven't (which I'm very sure they don't)

But they own the trademark for "postcode lottery" and in that respect they have the right to defend that mark in the same way Martin Lewis can defend any possible misuse of "Martin Lewis".

It's not a good situation for The FPL and it'd be great if a swift and uncostly resolution can be reached... but whether you like it or not, The PPL are just defending what they believe is their Intellectual Property.

You wouldn't expect Martin Lewis to not defend his trademark, so you have to accept that other companies will do the same - whether you like it or not. Whether "postcode lottery" should be a trademark is another debate. However, The PPL will also be arguing that they've been established for a number of years, created reputation and that "passing off" occurs with regards a postcode lottery so the TM argument is only part of the problem.

The worse part of this is that to defend themselves The FPL would have to stump up a lot of cash - if they win, then it still costs them. If they lose then it costs them and a bit more besides.

Hopefully Chris and his team come out with a good - and uncostly - result.

Jason

sleepyjones

I can see where the PPL are coming from ... my mum would probably think the People's Postcode Lottery and the Free Postcode Lottery are run by the same company, which is where I guess this is coming from.

Not saying I agree with what they are doing but I can see why it could cause confusion with consumers.

mjm3346

jdsaint wrote: »

However, The PPL will also be arguing that they've been established for a number of years, created reputation and that "passing off" occurs with regards a postcode lottery so the TM argument is only part of the problem.

The Free Postcode Lottery has been going over 10 years, if PPL were that bothered they should have taken action years ago - knowing their other legal but highly questionable tactics it would not surprise me if they waited for the FPL to become a large well established brand before taking action in the hope that they will in someway be able to make use of the name/domain and take in some more suckers.