Liam and Noel Gallagher have been shown “free people” in a dramatic legal battle with fashion brand Oasis after they were accused of ripping off the band’s clothes.
The stars have applied to trademark their famous white “Oasis” logo on a black background within a black rectangular border.
But this has been disputed by former High Street Giant Oasis – which is now online only after falling into administration five years ago – and says their own Oasis logo is “identical” to a “high degree”.
The Mancunian brothers filed an application to trademark the logo with the Intellectual Property Office for a wide range of goods, such as clothes, jewellery, toys and cards, computer games and cosmetics.
But in May, it was opposed by Oasis, which has hired Hotshot trademark specialist lawyers Wilson Gunn.
The brand is now requesting that the application be dismissed and costs awarded.
Liam and Noel Gallagher have been shown ‘free people’ in a dramatic legal battle with fashion brand Oasis after they were accused of ripping off the band’s clothes
According to the intellectual property office, Oasis – the band that is – now has until August 18 to file a counter-affidavit to defend their application.
The opposition document requests that the application be rejected because the goods are “identical or similar”, namely in the areas of clothing, footwear, headgear, jewellery and mail order services.
It stated that the Gallaghers clobber was exploiting Oasis’ fashion reputation.
They claim that the trademarks are so similar, Liam and Noel fans will believe ‘that between [two] users’.
It adds: “Because of the similarity of the marks and the reputation of the opponent and its trade marks, the applicant’s use of the subject mark would give the applicant an unfair advantage by free riding on the reputation of the opponent’s trade mark, thereby potentially increasing the sales of its goods. The applicant would be free, which is a significant reputation for pre-emption,” which ‘’ ‘’ ‘,’ ‘’ ‘’
The 39-page document said the quality of Liam and Noel’s products could harm the Oasis fashion brand, saying: “If the applicant’s goods, offered under the theme, are of a different standard than the opponent’s, offered under its trademarks, this could cause reputational damage, including tarnishment.”
It also adds that OASIS registered similar trademarks in April 2007, May 2008, August 2017, and February 2020.
Oasis is famous for its cheaper clothes – its website costs just a quarter of the £45 that Galaga asks for its adidas-backed T-shirts.
The stars have applied to trademark their famous white “Oasis” logo on a black background within a black rectangular border
But this has been disputed by former High Street Giant Oasis, who say their own Oasis logo is “identical” (items from the band’s live show “25
Oasis Fashions Online Ltd fell into administration in 2020 and lost 1,800 jobs, but was eventually bought out by the Boohoo Group, now known as the Debenhams Group
It could now take more than a year for this issue to be resolved if both warring parties request a hearing.
If Galaga loses the trademark battle, at this stage it does not automatically mean that they should stop selling their goods.
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Oasis and the clothing brand of the same name for comment.
Oasis Fashions Online Ltd fell into administration in 2020 and lost 1,800 jobs, but was eventually bought out by the Boohoo Group, now known as the Debenhams Group, and moved online-only.
It’s been a month since Noel and brother Liam performed together for the first time in 16 years following the epic, backstage fallout in Paris that led to the breakup of Oasis.
And while there have been fears that a major rift between the once-warring brothers could halt live shows, their latest concerts have shown that the pair are still on track for now.
On July 4, when the tour kicked off and the sight of Liam with his arm around Noel after 16 years was visible at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, it seemed the brothers had achieved their goal of convincing fans that the guns had been silenced.
The Oasis team have gone to enormous lengths to maintain an image of warm, brotherly harmony throughout the 41-gig tour, preserving the “magic” that Noel and Liam have left behind them past grievances.
The Daily Mail revealed that backstage staff, including security at each venue, are forced to place stickers over camera phones to prevent the brothers’ relationship from being filmed when they are not in public.
