A publishers of a new giveaway newspaper have won an interim injunction preventing Independent News & Media from using the word "metro" in the title of its planned rival freesheet, the High Court ruled today.
The publishers of the new Metrofreesheet, Metro International, Tidnings AB Metro and Fortunegreen Ltd claimed that the use of the title Herald Metro for the free newspaper planned by Independent News and Media would lead to confusion among the public and advertisers.
The plaintiffs claimed that "Metro" was a trademark registered to the plaintiffs for 57 papers in 81 cities across 18 countries.
The High Court has allowed Independent Newspapers to return to court on 36 hours notice to seek to have the injunction varied. Mr Justice Frank Clarke suggested it might be possible to devise a masthead with the word 'metro' which would not infringe the order.