Last year, Morley’s achieved a significant victory in its legal battle at the High Court when it successfully claimed that Metro’s had unlawfully infringed on the Morley’s brand.
Following this, Metro’s appealed the decision, presenting eight grounds for their defense. However, last month, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, reaffirming that Metro’s had indeed infringed upon several aspects of the Morley’s brand.
Morley’s proudly holds multiple registered trademarks, including its iconic logo and the name of its signature dish, the ‘Triple M’ burger.
“People have a real attachment to who we are, and so it was essential we took action when that brand was threatened,” stated managing director Shan Selvendran.
“I’m delighted with the outcome and with the specialist support of my legal team throughout this process.”
Founded in Sydenham in 1985, Morley’s has evolved into a cult brand in London, now boasting over 100 restaurants across the UK. Notably, the sign from its original branch was recently acquired by the Museum of London.
“As a family-owned business, there has been a tremendous amount of hard work over many years that has gone into making Morley’s what it is today,” Selvendran added.
“We’re so grateful to our loyal customers who come back time and again for our food, our service, and our sense of community.”
Morley’s legal representatives included Peter Hornsey and Sam Walker of Ward Hadaway, alongside Chris Pearson of Lamb Chambers.
“This outcome reinforces that the Courts will protect your brand if you have the necessary trademark protection in place,” stated Hornsey.
“For those considering sailing close to the wind, it also demonstrates that what you might think is ‘close’ is often ‘too far’. The iconic status of Morley’s makes the protection of its brand all the more important, and we’re thrilled with this outcome for Shan and his family.”
During the High Court proceedings, Judge Clarke determined that the font, color scheme, and layout of the logo—including the strapline and distinctive style of the letter ‘M’—used by Metro’s were strikingly similar to those of Morley’s. Consequently, the Judge ruled there was a “likelihood of confusion by a substantial part of that class of average consumer.”
