The Drum's Daily Briefing: Harley vs Next, Shein to float & Ticketmaster hacked
Our quickfire analysis of the brand, marketing and media stories that might just crop up in your meetings and conversations today.
Next's T-shirt that has upset Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson takes Next to court
Harley-Davidson is suing UK retailer Next in London’s High Court, alleging that a “motorbike-inspired” T-shirt sold by Next infringes on its trademark. The T-shirt, adorned with angel wings, flames, and the text “Rise and Roar,” allegedly replicates Harley-Davidson’s logo and associated graphic styles. Harley-Davidson claims this design could confuse consumers and is seeking a court declaration of trademark infringement, along with an order to destroy the infringing products. Harley-Davidson, founded in 1903, has expanded into clothing, generating $64 million in sales last quarter. The company has a history of defending its trademarks vigorously and aims to maintain their value and prevent unauthorized use. The legal filing includes images comparing Harley-Davidson’s logo with the disputed Next product, highlighting similarities that could mislead the public.
Source: The FT
Shein plans to float
Online fast fashion giant Shein is reportedly preparing to file for an IPO in London, potentially valuing the company at $66 billion (£51.7 billion). Originally founded in China and now headquartered in Singapore, Shein is shifting its focus to the UK market after encountering regulatory issues in the US. Despite its rapid growth, the company has faced allegations of forced labor and unethical working conditions. Shein's planned IPO in London could be significant for the market, which has seen few IPOs this year. However, the listing is likely to be controversial due to ongoing scrutiny over the company's labor practices.
Source: BBC
Ticketmaster confirms 560m customers hacked
Live Nation, owner of Ticketmaster, has confirmed "unauthorised activity" on its database after hackers ShinyHunters claimed to have stolen personal details of 560 million customers. The stolen data reportedly includes names, addresses, phone numbers, and partial credit card details. The hacking group is demanding a $500,000 ransom to prevent selling the data. Live Nation disclosed the breach in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission and is investigating the incident. The FBI and Australian government are involved in addressing the issue. Although Live Nation asserts the breach won’t significantly impact its operations, it continues to assess risks and remediation. This breach, potentially the largest in history, coincides with other major data hacks, including Santander.
Source: BBC
Superdry brand gets reprieve
Struggling London-listed fashion chain, Superdry, has been given a reprieve after the owner of its flagship store has pulled back from a challenge to the ailing company's rescue plan. It is understood that M&G, the asset manager which had been contemplating a formal objection to Superdry's restructuring plan, has opted not to proceed with the move. M&G owns Superdry's Oxford Street store and had engaged lawyers to scrutinize the proposals. City sources said that British Land, which owns a handful of Superdry stores, would abstain on the restructuring plan, but had also opted against a formal challenge.
Source: Sky News