Nokia Siemens Networks Trademark

February 7th, 2007

PepsiCo sues to block new Nokia Siemens Network Logo citing trademark infringement.

Purchase, NY—Frito Lay, a division of PepsiCo filed suit today in federal district court seeking to block the use of the logo representing newly merged Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). Citing the similarity between the NSN logo and the popular Ruffles brand potato chip, attorneys for Frito Lay are seeking an injunction baring Nokia Siemens Networks from launching any marketing campaign using the newly created icon.

Charles Nicolas, Vice President of Public Affairs for Frito Lay, insisted at a press conference earlier today that irrevocable harm to the Ruffles brand would result from any use of the NSN logo. “Consumers associate delicious Ruffles Potato Chips with the distinctive ridged shape,” Nicolas said, “we had to act to make sure there would be no confusion in the marketplace.”

Chip lovers have come to know that “R R R Ruffles Have Ridges!” The thick ridges of Ruffles Potato Chips help hold more great potato chip flavors and stand up to the thickest dips. “We’ve delivered the Triple Play of Ruffles, Dip, and an ice cold Pepsi, now Nokia Siemens Networks is attempting to confuse consumers with their ‘voice, data, and video’ triple play.” Nicolas asserted. “How well does a Flexi Base Station Platform stand up to a thick ranch dip fresh from the refrigerator?”

Simon Beresford-Wylie, CEO-designate of Nokia Siemens Networks disagrees with Nicolas’ assertion. “First of all, the Flexi Base Station is housed in a high impact ABS plastic housing, which, one would assume, could support more dip than all but the thickest potato chip” Beresford-Wylie retorted. “Second, Nokia Siemens Networks is offering an integrated product portfolio that allows our customers to offer the quad play of voice, data, video, and wireless. How does Frito Lay intend to step up to the quad play? By adding a napkin?”

Legal analysts give the lawsuit little chance of success, but concede that the Nokia Siemens Networks logo does look remarkably similar to both Ruffles and Lay’s Wavy potato chips.

Ruffles Potato Chip

Nokia Siemens Networks Logo

Article taken from Dan Covey's CRAPPIBlog