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Liam and Noel Gallagher have been branded ‘free-riders’ in a dramatic legal battle with the fashion brand Oasis, after being accused of ripping off the band’s clothes.
The stars have applied to trademark their famous white ‘Oasis’ logo on a black background within a black rectangular border.
But this has been opposed by the former high street giant Oasis – which is now just back online after falling into administration five years ago – and says their own Oasis logo is ‘identical’ to a ‘high degree’.
The Mancunian brothers filed the application to trademark the logo with the Intellectual Property Office under a wide range of merchandise such as clothes, jewellery, toys and cards, computer games and cosmetics.
But in May, this was opposed by Oasis, who have hired hotshot trademark specialist lawyers Wilson Gunn.
The brand are now demanding the application is rejected and awarded costs.
According to the Intellectual Property Office, Oasis – the band that is – now have until the 18 August to file a counter-statement to defend their application.
The opposition document demands the application is rejected due to goods being ‘identical or similar’, namely in the areas of clothing, footwear, headwear, jewellery, and mail order services of bags and clothes.
It stated that the Gallaghers clobber are taking advantage of Oasis fashion’s reputation.
They claim that the trademarks are so similar, Liam and Noel’s fans will believe ‘that there is an economic connection between the [two] users’.
It adds: ‘Due to the similarity of the marks and the reputation of the Opponent and its trademarks, the use by the Applicant of the subject mark would result in the Applicant obtaining an unfair advantage by virtue of free-riding on the reputation of the Opponent’s trademark thereby potentially increasing sales of its goods… the applicant would thus free-ride on the significant reputation of the Opponent’s trademarks.’
The 39-page document went onto state that the quality of Liam and Noel’s products could harm the Oasis fashion brand saying ‘should the Applicant’s goods offered under the subject mark be of a different standard from those of the Opponent provided under its trademarks this could lead to detriment to the reputation including tarnishing.’
It further adds that Oasis registered similar trademarks in April 2007, May 2008, August 2017 and February 2020.
Oasis is renowned for its cheaper clothes – a top on its site costs just a quarter of the £45 that the Gallaghers are asking for their Adidas-backed t-shirts.
Now it could take over a year for the issue to be resolved if the two warring parties request a hearing.
If the Gallaghers lose the trademark battle, at this stage, it doesn’t automatically mean that they would have to stop selling their merchandise.
Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Oasis and the clothing brand of the same name for comment.
Oasis Fashions Online Ltd fell into administration in 2020 and the loss of 1,800 jobs, but it was eventually bought out by the Boohoo group, now known as the Debenhams Group, and moved solely online.
It’s been a month since Noel and brother Liam performed together for the first time in 16 years following an epic falling out backstage in Paris which caused Oasis to split.
And while it’s been feared that a major bust-up between the once warring brothers could put a halt to the live shows, their last few gigs have showed that the pair are still on track for the time being.
On July 4 when the tour kicked off and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium witnessed the sight of Liam with his arm around Noel after 16 years, it seemed the brothers had achieved their aim to convincing fans the guns had fallen silent.
Team Oasis has gone to enormous lengths to maintain an image of warm, fraternal harmony throughout the 41-gig tour by maintaining the ‘magic’ that Noel and Liam have put their past grievances behind them.
The Daily Mail revealed that backstage staff including security at every venue are forced to put stickers over their camera phones to prevent filming the brothers’ relationship when they are not public-facing.
