Iceland vs Iceland: Start-ups must protect brands

Protecting the brand is as much a legal issue as it is marketing, Walters told FoodManufacture.co.uk. The “cold war” over the ‘Iceland’ trademark highlighted the legal problems that can arise without effective branding protection, she said.

“This case highlights the need for food businesses to take the issue of branding seriously,” Walters said. “This is particularly the case with start-ups. Products that are produced by a designated method or have a unique recipe, can patent their process or recipe.

‘Name, typeface or pack format’

“But other brands must fall back on trademarking assets such as their name, typeface or pack format. New brands should seek names that are as singular as possible and logos and pack formats that are distinctive.”

The Icelandic government launched legal action against Iceland Foods last month (November 24). It claimed Icelandic businesses were “caused harm” as they couldn’t promote themselves with their place of origin.

But, nobody believed that everything sold by Iceland Foods came from the country Iceland, claimed Walters.

Nobody knew that Iceland (Foods) would become a multi-million pound business when its first store opened, which is where the problem lay, Walters said. She added that branding became a business’s most valuable asset as it grew.

Iceland vs Iceland

Start-up food and drink firms must ensure their legal teams were as switched on as their marketing teams, urged Walters, to avoid a similar ‘Iceland vs Iceland’ row down the line.

“Consult a trademark lawyer, and then protect as many of your brand’s assets as possible,” she advised. “Whilst this may be an upfront expense, it will pay for itself in the long-term.”

Meanwhile, Iceland Foods claimed the Icelandic government had “no interest” in reaching a compromise over use of the word ‘Iceland’. The retailer held failed talks with the government last week (December 2).