Your commercial news round-up: New Balance, T-Mobile, staycations, Shell Nigeria
updated on 19 August 2021
It’s the last month of the summer holidays. Before you know it, you’ll have spent it binge-watching Love Island or sending memes! Why not take a break to read up on what’s been occupying the commercial scene this week. Find out more about:
- why New Balance sued Michael Kors;
- T-Mobile’s data leak;
- why Britons are spending a fortune on holidays this year; and
- why Shell is shelling out money to Nigeria.
- New Balance filed a lawsuit alleging that Michael Kors (MK) had infringed on the shoe brand’s trademarks. The sportswear giant alleges that a design on MK’s shoes was “virtually identical and confusingly similar” to the New Balance’s N marks. New Balance hopes the lawsuit will force MK to stop using the design and recall existing shoes. If successful, the law suit could result in the sports brand awarded compensation and any profits MK has made from the shoes. New Balance has “exclusively used the letter N as a trademark on footwear since the 1970s.” New Balance recently won a long-running trademark battle against New Barlun, a Chinese sportswear and was awarded damages of £25 million.
- Meanwhile, in the telecoms sector, T-Mobile’s data leak has exposed the personal information of more than 47 million people. Identity data from postpaid, prepaid, former and prospective customers data were targeted and sold on the dark web, according to CITY A.M. The large data breach included details such as first names, last names, dates of birth, social security numbers, driver’s licences or other identification. The network is currently coordinating with law enforcement about the cyberattack and has recommended that customers change their T-Mobile PINs. It is likely the cyberattack is responsible for the network’s share price plummeting -1.84% in the past five days.
- Britons are predicted to spend on average £414 on a city break this year, according to the 2021 Travelodge City Holiday Index. Following the ease of lockdown restrictions, 61% are taking a city break to rest for recreation, which is more than double last year’s figure. This is due to the government’s hold on foreign holidays and the scarcity of UK beach holidays. A survey revealed many were keen (now more than ever) to explore places like Bath, Oxford and Aberdeen because of their food, culture, history and shopping.
- Oil giant Shell will pay the Nigerian community $11 million to settle a case over an oil spill that took place five decades ago. For more than 50 years, Shell allegedly spilled millions of litres of oils in the Niger Delta. The oil contaminated major rivers, destroyed fertile farmland and affected the health and livelihoods of local farmers. The Dutch Court of Appeal ruled Shell Nigeria owed a duty of care to the affected villagers and ordered the oil major to pay the Ejama-Ebubu community the “full and final settlement”.
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