US apparel brand Gap serves legal notice to NGO for using similar name

NEW DELHI: US apparel brand Gap has served a legal notice to a New Delhi-based NGO for calling its stores selling up-cycled apparels, accessories and handicrafts ‘ Green The Gap’.



The notice gave a two-week ultimatum to the non-government organisation to stop using ‘Green The Gap’ name on stores, apparels and its website, but the latter is in no mood to fall in line. In a reply to the Gap notice, Green The Gap has said it uses its logo in a distinctive manner that is different from that of the trademark of the apparel giant.

S Ashish Kanta Singh, a lawyer representing Gap, had served the legal notice on March 1.

“Such unauthorised adaptation and use of the impugned mark and name in respect of goods/services which are identical to our clients’ goods/services is clearly actuated by a mala fide intention to take undue advantage of our clients’ reputation and goodwill,” the legal notice said. Singh declined to comment on the issue.

Started four years ago, Green The Gap currently operates two standalone stores, in Delhi and Mumbai, and also sells its products and through stockists in countries such as the Netherlands and Canada. With the NGO determined to stand its ground, a long legal battle is on cards.