Posted on 08/02/2004 5:59:45 PM PDT by finnman69
THE W hotel chain is aggres sively laying claim to the letter W, no matter what President Bush's nickname is. The group behind the chain, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., has fired off legal let ters to two political merchandisers, de manding they re move the letter W — as in George W. Bush — from "apparel and accessories" they are selling. The of fending items include baseball hats and T-shirts "that mimic the trade dress of the W hotels, which has the effect of eroding the unique brand identity developed in the W logo."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
It's pretty plain to me that it's a different logo.
There's no way this will succeed.
and the W Hotel chain does not sell t-shirts or hate browing in their store.
That takes some nerve, laying claim to the letter "W". And I've never heard of Starwood Hotels before. I have heard of George W. Bush. And why would Starwood use a "W" anyway? Why not an "S"?
You cannot copyright numbers, or single letters of the alphabet.
NO WAYYYYY FInnman for the record
This is George Bush full name
George Walker "Dubya" Bush
AM I RIGHT
W Hotels you try be hip here SHUT UP
Damn lawyers. Oh well.
Get in touch with W's Corporate Headquarters
W Hotels
1111 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10604
Tel: 914-640-8100
or
E-mail us: http://www.starwood.com/whotels/contact/email.html
About W
It starts with the name. W...for warm, wonderful, witty, wired. W for welcome.
It continues with the space. Custom-designed. Innovative. Chic, spacious lounges for gathering. Original art. Exceptional service and staff. State-of-the-art fitness facilities. Personal trainers. Spa services. Whatever you want, whenever you want it - that's W.
It culminates with your room. A seamless blend of comfort and technology, wired to be your virtual office. Fully stocked with everything from Aveda bath products to plush down comforters.
W invites you to a new brand of business hotels, unlike anything else available, providing the personality and style of a boutique hotel with the reliability and comprehensive business services travelers expect.
W Hotels® are situated in some of the most exhilarating neighborhoods in major cities across the country - close to business districts, convention centers, shopping, dining and nightlife. A total of 20 W Hotels will open by the end of 2004, including properties in Seoul and Montreal. In 2005, the first W & Hotels Residences will open in Dallas and Fort Lauderdale.
And they're worried about losing business, how???
That is Sofa King we Todd did. They're not similar, and how can you own a letter? He was "W" before they were. Gues I'll never stay there.
I just let them know that I will do everything within my power to ensure they fail as a company. =)
W History
Combining the personality and style of an independent hotel with the reliability, consistency and attentive service of a major business hotel, W Hotels® has redefined the upscale hotel experience - becoming the most successful new hotel brand in the industry.
It began with the recognition that there are customers who seek a balance between style and substance - in their own lives, as in the destinations they choose. Each W hotel embodies this balance with a strikingly modern approach to design that is as refreshing, accessible and comfortable as one's own living space, and an emphasis on comfort, warm, attentive service and exceptional amenities.
The W experience began with the W New York (49th St. and Lexington), which opened its doors in December of 1998. An instant phenomenon, its success drove the development of more than a dozen new properties in exciting destinations - including Sydney, Los Angeles, Honolulu and New Orleans - in an unprecedented two-year span. By the end of 2002, W is welcoming guests in San Diego, two locations in Chicago , and New York Times Square.
Each hotel also offers signature restaurant and bar areas that attract not only the hotel guests, but in-the-know local residents as well. A collaboration with renowned chef Drew Nieporent led to the success of the restaurant Heartbeat in the first W New York, followed by Earth & Ocean at W Seattle and Icon at W New York - The Court. Following the creative excellence established by Drew are Gail Deffarari of XYZ at W San Francisco, and Todd English of Olives at W New York - Union Square.
It's an approach that reflects the W vision of the hotel as a wonderful gathering place, much like the grand hotels of the early 1900s. Now, W has become the modern destination where all of life's special moments can be celebrated.
Even if the font of the W were exactly the same, there's no possibility that anyone would mistake "W Motels Worldwide" for "W the President." They're just trying to generate publicity for their business. It'll be tossed. Besides, they should beware of alienating all the Dubya supporters.
It's why Intel went from the 80486 chip to the Pentium.
Other companies were offering 80486 chips, and Intel tried to claim that the "80x86" designator was under copyright.
The courts told 'em to put some ice on it.
Starwood Hotels is owned by the Ziff brothers... Including Dirk Ziff, a billionaire Manhattan democratic socialite...
Not surprising.
(Their father founded Ziff Davis Press and sold it off, gave his sons some serious dough -- they then started Ziff Brothers Investment... Located in the old Citicorp building... The one with the slanted roof featured on drudge recently as being under terror threat)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.