March 1,2019:

On 21st February 2019, The Public Theater, a New York-based arts organization filed a complaint at the US District Court for the Southern District, New York. The Public Theater is famous for its “Shakespeare in the Park” drama which it presents at the New York Central Park every summer.

The Suit was filed against the New York-based hotel called “PUBLIC” The hotel is a home for Public Arts as well a nightclub venue.

The complaint was filed against Ian Schrager the owner of the New York-based hotel “PUBLIC”, the complaint stated that the Public Theater is the rightful owner of the mark ‘ Public’ along with the marks ‘Joe’s Pub’ and ‘The Public’ and Ian Schrager infringed on these 3 marks. The registered marks were registered in classes for entertainment services, workshops, classes, live theatre etc.

Ian Schrager’s night avenue ‘Public Arts’ is popular for hosting live musicals as well as various theatrical performances. Recently a musical “Carmen: To Havana and Back”, inspired from the musical “Carmen Jones” was hosted at Ian Schrager’s night venue.

In connection to the same Public Arts had enormously advertised. The Public Theater claimed that Public Art’s advertisements directly infringed on their mark ‘Public’ as the mark was used without any prior approval.

The Public Theater claimed in the complain that they had notified Ian Schrager in September 2017, that the mark ‘Public’ solely belongs to The Public Theater, however, even after such intimation Ian Schrager continued to use the mark and further “infringed, diluted and otherwise unfairly competed” Due to such a willful and deliberate attempt to confuse the customers between both the companies The Public Theater filed a complaint against Ian Schrager.

The Public Theater demands the Court to pass an injunction against such infringing activity.  The Court’s decision is yet to be passed.

To visit, Trademarkclick.com, Click Here

Picture Source :