Specsavers and Asda clash over logo similarities
LONDON - Specsavers is to meet Asda in court next April in a bid to stop the supermarket's Asda Opticians brand from using a logo it claims is misleadingly similar to its own.
Specsavers has also claimed the slogan used by the supermarket, 'Be a real spec saver at Asda' is designed to mislead customers.
At a court hearing yesterday a judge agreed to treat the case urgently, ruling there was enough evidence that Specsavers' reputation was threatened by Asda Optician's marketing campaign, which was launched last month.
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Asda yesterday agreed to stop using the slogan after this week but will continue to use the logo, according to reports by The Times and Optician Online.
Richard Holmes, marketing director at Specsavers, said: "We are very pleased that Asda has now agreed in court to remove any reference to being a spec saver from any of its advertising as soon as possible and that the judge has ordered that an expedited trial should take place in April."
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Comments
Mark Griffiths - 04/11/2009
The problem was the strapline not the logo. Now resolved.
RICHARD WILLIAMS - 04/11/2009
It astonishes me that a business like Asda is unable to create an individual and head turning symbol without resorting to copying someone else's not very original mark. They have the pick of the UK's best agencies willing to work with them.
Spectacles Blog - 11/11/2009
What astonishes me is that Asda have yielded the entry price to Specsavers where you can get a fully decent complete pair of spectacles for £25 (I wear some!) whereas they'd cost £50 at Asda. Also the two-for-one at Specsavers is better value too.) Surely part of Asda's No. 1 propostion is value and yet this clash with Specsavers shows up that the latter are generally much better value... Curious!