News

Jaguar: kicking the little guy

May 17, 2012

Tata has conclusively proven that it is getting into the swing of being a global car manufacturer with an act of colossal twattishness.

The Indian giant’s Jaguar Land Rover arm has launched a trademark complaint against tiny East London-based arts collective/cafe bar/gallery JaguarShoes.

Started in 2001, the JaguarShoes name was a leftover from a previous tenant in the building the family owned and operated business choose to locate in.

Over the following decade brother and sister team, Teresa and Nick Letchford, have built the business up into a vibrant, thriving hub of creativity in East London and the popular cafe bar and gallery has promoted over 600 talents in art, music and fashion via its venues and exhibitions.

Clearly the sort of damaging nonsense JLR needs to protect itself from…

JaguarShoes press release finishes with the remarkably sensible conclusion:

“Jaguar’s UK website SEO description reads, ‘Our mission at Jaguar has been to create and build beautiful fast cars’.

JaguarShoes have collaborated with many brands including Disney Buena Vista, Warner Bros, (for major film releases like Donnie Darko, Kill Bill and Sin City) TOMS shoes, EASTPAK, Ketel One, Stella Artois and most recently Hemingway/HushPuppies. Brands that, as part of their marketing strategy have undertaken projects collaborating with the growing collective of ‘JaguarShoes’ artists, at their successful music and arts venues.

In view of the UK’s current financial climate, it is surprising that Jaguar cars are not working with a young and vibrant business like JaguarShoes, who do not make or ever intend to make cars. Jaguar are instead applying pressure by filing against a business winch supports creativity, artists and the local economy.”

Not doing the old brand image much good in Blighty there JLR….

Read JaguarShoes full release here