Latest news with #Glitterbest
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘Spex Pistols' opticians changes name after band's legal threat
An opticians called Spex Pistols has changed its name after legal threats from the Sex Pistols. The punk band's lawyers served the small shop near Dundee's West Port with a 'cease and desist' letter after highlighting similarities between the two logos. Following discussions, the store was told it could continue trading under the same name, but on the condition it changed its emblem. Glitterbest, which represents the Sex Pistols, said the similarly styled logo 'clearly intended to bring the band to mind'. The company added it was 'under the impression an agreement had been reached' before news of the rebrand. But Richard Cook, the shop's owner, has instead opted to rename it after deciding the conditions in which they were being told to operate were too limiting. The 54-year-old said the shop had 'never' been confused with the Sex Pistols. 'We don't really have a choice,' he said. 'They are a global brand with millions of followers from the punk scene all around the world. 'We are a wee spectacle shop in the smallest street in Dundee concentrating on serving our modest but loyal customer base as best we can.' Mr Cook had no previous issues after opening his doors under the name in 2011. However, that changed when he missed a trademark renewal with the Intellectual Property Office in 2024 after he suffered a heart attack. 'We missed the renewal of the trademark through unfortunate circumstances but have traded under this name peacefully for 14 years,' he said. 'I wanted to find a way to continue as Spex Pistols but, in the end, it was simply easier and cheaper to change the name and brand.' He added: 'It is the end of an era for Dundee. I never expected it to get to this.' The outlet will now be called Land O'Spex, in a nod to an 'iconic' old bakery shop in the area. He said he made the tough decision to fully rebrand because the band's lawyers were putting so many constraints in place on how he could operate in the future. 'To be honest, with all the restrictions put in place, it made it almost impossible for us to carry on with it, without having full creative control,' he said. 'We felt there was no way we could continue and that a new name would suit us better.' A Glitterbest spokesman said: 'The objection was to the shop's logo, which uses a very similar stylisation to the Sex Pistols's logo and is clearly intended to bring the band to mind. 'We have gone to great lengths over many months to be as accommodating as possible in finding a resolution that both protects the Sex Pistols brand, whilst minimising the impact on the shop. 'We had made it clear to the owners of the shop that they could continue to use the name 'Spex Pistols' and agreed a new logo design, without any financial demands, and had been under the impression that an agreement had been reached.' The band and its members are no stranger to legal disputes. In 2021, John Lydon, the band's frontman, lost a High Court battle to stop the Sex Pistols's music from being used in a television show directed by Danny Boyle. Former drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones had sued Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten, after he attempted to veto the use of the group's songs in the show. The veteran rock star is also involved in an ongoing legal dispute with photographer Dennis Morris over who owns the copyright for the logo of his post-punk band Public Image Ltd, also known as PiL.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Opticians trading as the Spex Pistols forced to change name after legendary punk band contacts lawyers
An optical boutique has changed its name after being contacted by lawyers for legendary punk band the Sex Pistols. The Dundee shop trading as Spex Pistols received a 'cease and desist' letter last year from representatives of the musicians. Lawyers highlighted similarities between the boutique's logo and the group's while raising objections - and it appeared there was 'no future' in keeping the same name under the conditions suggested, to quote one of their most famous lyrics. Glitterbest, which represents the band, said that following discussions it was agreed that the shop could continue using the name Spex Pistols but with a new logo design. However, boutique owner Richard Cook decided to rebrand the shop rather than operate according to the terms proposed by the Sex Pistols, who have recently reformed but no longer involve John Lydon - previously known as Johnny Rotten. Mr Cook has now renamed his shop Land O'Spex in a nod to a former bakery shop Land O'Cakes in Dundee. Mr Cook said: 'It is the end of an era for Dundee, but the start of a new chapter for our shop. 'We have very committed customers who support us because we do things differently. Our focus is always on good customer service.' The shop formerly known as Spex Pistols opened in 2010. The brand issue arose in 2024 when Mr Cook missed the date to renew his trademark for Spex Pistols for the first time since he obtained the rights in 2012. Mr Cook said: 'We missed the renewal of the trademark through unfortunate circumstances but have traded under this name peacefully for 14 years.' He insisted the shop had 'never been confused with The Sex Pistols'. He said: 'They are a global brand with millions of followers from the punk scene all around the world. 'We are a wee spectacle shop in the smallest street in Dundee concentrating on serving our modest but loyal customer base as best we can.' He added that they 'wanted to find a way to continue as Spex Pistols but, in the end, it was simply easier and cheaper to change the name and brand'. The Sex Pistols came to fame in the punk boom of the 1970s, with Rotten as singer - attracting controversies such as a sweary interview with TV presenter Bill Grundy while releasing anthems such as Anarchy In The UK and God Save The Queen and their debut album Never Mind The B*****ks, Here's The Sex Pistols. Surviving members of the band recently reformed for concert dates but with Rotten - real name John Lydon unwilling to take part and replaced on vocals by Frank Carter. The reformed Sex Pistols played a Teenage Cancer Trust show at London's Royal Albert Hall in March - left to right are Glen Matlock, new singer Frank Carter, Paul Cook and Steve Jones A Glitterbest spokesperson said of the dispute with the optical boutique: 'The objection was to the shop's logo, which uses a very similar stylisation to the Sex Pistols' logo and is clearly intended to bring the band to mind. 'We have gone to great lengths over many months to be as accommodating as possible in finding a resolution that both protects the Sex Pistols brand, whilst minimising the impact on the shop. 'We had made it clear to the owners of the shop that they could continue to use the name "Spex Pistols" and agreed a new logo design, without any financial demands, and had been under the impression that an agreement had been reached.' Band members Steve Cook, Paul Jones and Glen Matlock reformed last year and have future tour dates planned including an Australian tour.
The National
13-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish eyewear shop changes name after Sex Pistols legal row
The former Spex Pistols shop in Dundee received a 'cease and desist' letter last year from representatives of the musicians highlighting similarities between the boutique's logo and that of the punk rock band, and raising objections. Glitterbest, which represents the band, said that following discussions it was agreed that the shop could continue using the name Spex Pistols but with a new logo design. However, boutique owner Richard Cook decided to rebrand the shop rather than operate under the conditions proposed by The Sex Pistols. READ MORE: Pensioner arrested after £3.2 million cannabis farm discovered in Scottish town He has now renamed the shop Land O'Spex in a nod to a former bakery shop Land O'Cakes in Dundee. Cook said: 'It is the end of an era for Dundee, but the start of a new chapter for our shop. 'We have very committed customers who support us because we do things differently. Our focus is always on good customer service.' The shop formerly known as Spex Pistols opened in 2010. The brand issue arose in 2024 when Cook missed the date to renew his trademark for Spex Pistols for the first time since he obtained the rights in 2012. Cook said: 'We missed the renewal of the trademark through unfortunate circumstances but have traded under this name peacefully for 14 years,' adding that the shop has 'never been confused with The Sex Pistols'. He said: 'They are a global brand with millions of followers from the punk scene all around the world. 'We are a wee spectacle shop in the smallest street in Dundee concentrating on serving our modest but loyal customer base as best we can.' He added that they 'wanted to find a way to continue as Spex Pistols but, in the end, it was simply easier and cheaper to change the name and brand'. A Glitterbest spokesperson said: 'The objection was to the shop's logo, which uses a very similar stylisation to the Sex Pistols' logo and is clearly intended to bring the band to mind. 'We have gone to great lengths over many months to be as accommodating as possible in finding a resolution that both protects the Sex Pistols brand, whilst minimising the impact on the shop. 'We had made it clear to the owners of the shop that they could continue to use the name 'Spex Pistols' and agreed a new logo design, without any financial demands, and had been under the impression that an agreement had been reached.'
