Legal Action
1. Why has Pilkington taken action against HW Glass Ltd, Wigan as recently announced in your press release?
The glass trade has been made aware of Pilkington's concern and position on this matter in the past. In an independently commissioned investigation we found practices which contravened our rights to be occurring at HW Glass Ltd. Pilkington decided to take legal action in order to bring these practices to a stop.
2. What action was taken against HW Glass Ltd and what was the outcome?
Pilkington issued proceedings against HW Glass Ltd for passing off glass not manufactured by Pilkington as if it were manufactured by Pilkington. The action resulted in HW Glass consenting to a court order against them for the aforementioned infringements and settlement for undisclosed damages and costs.
3. Why does Pilkington take this course of action?
Pilkington is determined to protect its intellectual property rights and avoid customers seeking genuine Pilkington glass from being misled. Pilkington products are designed, manufactured and tested to the most exacting standards, for which an enormous investment has and continues to be made. In order to protect the interests of Pilkington and its bona fide customers, Pilkington will strenuously defend its products and brands against plagiarism of any type.
4. What is the benefit to Pilkington of this sort of action?
Pilkington has always worked to develop the market in the UK & Ireland to
add value to products for the benefit of the whole industry. This includes substantial investment in branding to both the consumer and trade customers and provision of sales literature, samples and other promotional devices. Pilkington and its customers benefit from this in terms of being asked for our products by name, in this case we expect that our product should be supplied. We invest in our brands and like all brand owners we seek to maintain the reputation of these brands.
5. Why have you published this announcement in the glass press?
Pilkington are reminding the glass trade of our legitimate rights in our trade marks and our reputation therein. We consider this to be a very serious issue and intend to protect our business and reputation from anyone infringing these rights.
6. Have you taken action against other companies who have contravened your rights?
This is a matter between Pilkington and the companies we identified. As a minimum we are asking for this practice to stop and have approached other companies with this in mind.
7. Have you taken the same action against all the companies who have contravened your rights?
Essentially the process we have followed has been consistent from company to company, but the exact details are a confidential matter between Pilkington and each company concerned.
8. What are you going to do about people who continue not to respect your rights?
We are prepared to take legal action against third parties in respect of any infringement of Pilkington trade marks, copyright or passing off non-Pilkington glass as coming from Pilkington (whether by use of Pilkington literature to promote sales or otherwise).
9. Will Pilkington continue to take this sort of action
Yes, Pilkington will continue to investigate possible infringements of trademarks and passing off and will issue further publicity to remind customers of the nature of our concerns.