Sky claims brand infringement on Sky Wi-Fi Smartpen
December 17, 2012
Digital pen maker Livescribe has been forced to pull its flagship Sky Wi-Fi Smartpen from stores in the UK after it was sued by BSkyB.
Sky claims that Livescribe breaches its “Sky” trademarks with the gadget, which records audio and wirelessly transfers it to users’ computers. Sky is suing Livescribe – as well as Dixons Retail which stocked the digital pen – for alleged trademark infringement and passing off.
Livescribe said: “British Sky Broadcasting (“BSB”) has written to Livescribe alleging that we are infringing the trademark rights of BSB. We are currently taking legal advice from our counsel in the UK.”
“While Livescribe does not offer any goods or services similar to those of BSB, out of an abundance of caution we have instructed our distributors and resellers in the UK to stop selling the Livescribe Sky Wi-Fi smartpens in the interim while we investigate the matter.”
Livescribe boasts that its gadget is the “first digital pen to integrate Wi-Fi technology and cloud services”. In the US, where the pen is still available to purchase, a top-of-the-range model costs $250.