Published on: 01 November, 2024 22:53 IST
LI Network
Google successfully defended a trademark lawsuit filed by Shorts International over YouTube’s short video platform, Shorts, with London’s High Court ruling there was no risk of consumer confusion between the two brands.
Shorts International, known for its short film TV channel, alleged last year that Google’s usage of the term “shorts” infringed on its trademark. YouTube, owned by Google, launched its Shorts platform in 2020 to showcase minute-long videos, positioning itself as a competitor to TikTok.
In the trial earlier this month, Google’s lawyer, Lindsay Lane, contended that Shorts is “abundantly clear” as a YouTube product, distinctly separate from Shorts International. Judge Michael Tappin ruled in favor of Google, stating there was no likelihood of confusion and that YouTube’s use of “shorts” would not harm Shorts International’s brand or reputation.
Requests for comment from Google and Shorts International went unanswered.