Many of you out there, would have heard the Rumours or read details of the approach of WWE to VPW in relation to Intellectual Rights . . . . . .
An independant source in relation to the Sun Newspaper issued a statement on 5th February 2010 which read . . . . . .
The WWE legal team have been doing a lot of chest pounding this week. Lauren Middlen, who is WWE's intellectual property attorney, sent out a number of threat-o-grams to wrestling fansites for using photos of WWE wrestlers.
Additional steps were imposed while they also sent a cease and desist letter on Tuesday to a UK independent group based out of Portsmouth, England for trademark infringment....
VPW (Varsity Pro Wrestling) ran shows on the weekend of 12th and 13th Febraury, with former WWE wrestlers billed as Hardcore Holly, Billy Gunn [Kip James] and Road Dogg [Brian James].
The promotional poster they put up all over town also included the WWE and DX Logo, both supported with the words 'FORMER SUPERSTAR'.
WWE said if VPW didn't recall all advertising, baring WWE trademarks within 48 hours they would commence legal proceedings. WWE's letter to the group stated:
"It is WWE’s concern that The Guildhall [the building VPW are running their shows] is using the popularity of the WWE trademarks to improperly attempting to pass off this event as an official event of WWE"
Your actions in doing so constitute unfair competition and false designation of origin. WWE, as trademark holder, can institute a civil action seeking permanent injunctive relief and an award of treble damages, counsel fees and costs." A rep from VPW told us that they have responded to WWE and met their demands.
If you have seen a VPW show - you will know that they are not passing themselves off as a WWE Event - They have brought life back into british wrestling, using a stamp that only VPW can do.
The professionalism of performance, and promotion is increasing exponentially every time we see them - Bearing in mind they have also not long been quoted as being 'The Saviour of British Wrestling"
