Oh oh. Remember the Globe Tonino 4G Stick that Globe launched a couple of weeks ago? Well, Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l., the Italian based company who owns the trademark is saying that it has never manufactured or authorized anyone to manufacture such a product, and that the product in question “constitutes therefore a serious trademark infringement”. This is according to press release posted on the Marketwire website, and signed by Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. head honcho himself, Dott. Gian Luca Filippi. The release further says that “moreover the advertising campaign “Feed your need for speed” featuring Marlon Stockinger, first Filipino to win a formula race in Europe, is deceitful and unlawful since it leads to a serious likelihood of confusion between two different and separate brands and businesses that is to say “Tonino Lamborghini” and “Automobili Lamborghini“.”
Judging from the release, Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. might be pursuing legal action against Globe. What that ultimately means for Globe and their line of Tonino Lamborghini stick remains to be seen. You can read the whole release in the link below.
We reached out to a Globe official who said that there were Tonino Lamborghini representatives during the launch (we can confirm this claim). They’re saying that there’s a company that’s the exclusive licensee of Tonino Lamborghini s.rl., Primo Mobile based in Singapore (who, according to their website, has been awarded the exclusive rights to create, develop and market mobile devices under the prestigious, Tonino Lamborghini brand in appointed territories) who then gave the sub-license to Globe to use in their stick. It seems like the whole thing is a big misunderstanding, and talks are still ongoing about the whole branding issue. Which actually makes sense, since Globe is a pretty big company, and something a collaboration this big wouldn’t have been greenlighted without proper approval from the parties concerned. We’re still waiting for Globe’s official response to the issue, and we’ll update this post as soon as they send their official reply.
We just received Globe’s official response. In a nutshell, they’re putting the ball into Primo Mobile’s court, saying that “Globe Telecom obtained authorization to use the name and logo Tonino Lamborghini through an agreement with Primo Mobile, the master franchisor of mobile phone related products for the Italian brand Tonino Lamborghini.” They further add that “the design of the Globe Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini 4G broadband stick was reviewed and approved by Primo Mobile.” As we said before, it seems like the entire thing is one big misunderstanding between Globe, Primo Mobile and Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. Does this mean that Globe’s free and clear from litigation? It’s hard to tell. Right now, it’s the ball is in Primo Mobile’s court, and it’ll be interesting to see how the whole story pans out. We’ve provided Globe’s entire’s response below.
Source: Marketwire
Globe Telecom obtained authorization to use the name and logo ToninoLamborghini through an agreement with Primo Mobile, the master franchisor of mobile phone related products for the Italian brand ToninoLamborghini.
Primo Mobile is a Singapore-based company that has a master license agreement with Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. and is duly authorized to sub-license the use of the Tonino Lamborghini logo. The design of the Globe Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini 4G broadband stick was reviewed and approved by Primo Mobile.
Globe Telecom assures the public of its strong adherence and commitmentto the highest ethical standards in business and good corporategovernance. The company will not engage in any activity that will mislead the public in the course of doing business and serving its customers.