Ramsay Hands U.K. Spotted Pig Trademark to U.S. Owners
Gordon Ramsay Holdings International Ltd. has obtained the U.K. trademark for “The Spotted Pig” and immediately handed it over to owners to the New York restaurant and bar of the same name.
“We have been liaising with The Spotted Pig in New York for some months, and had arranged for the trademark to be passed to them once it was registered,” according to an e-mailed statement from Gordon Ramsay Holdings today. “This has now happened.”
The New York venue is owned by chefs Mario Batali and April Bloomfield and a group including restaurateur Ken Friedman. It also attracted attention because of investments from celebrities such as Bono and Jay-Z.
Ramsay’s application for the U.K. trademark caused controversy after it was reported by Bloomberg News on Nov. 20 last year.
One party expressed an intention to oppose the application, and the opposition period has now expired, the Intellectual Property Office said in an e-mailed response to a query by Bloomberg News. The office does not identify objectors. The right to use the name lasts for 10 years.
Anthony Bourdain and Jamie Oliver were among chefs who criticized the application. Bourdain said the attempt to use the name was shameful.
“Gordon Ramsay registers name ‘Spotted Pig’ in England?” Bourdain said in a message posted on Twitter on Nov. 20, according to Eater.com.
Oliver responded: “April & Ken have built something very special & one day I hope they will bring it to London. We like originals,” the Daily Mail reported.
The Intellectual Property Office website shows one other trademark application by the Gordon Ramsay Holdings since 2008. That is for the name Cafe Nick.
(Richard Vines is the chief food critic for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. He is U.K. and Ireland chairman of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards. Opinions expressed are his own.)
To contact the writer on the story: Richard Vines in London at rvines@bloomberg.net or http://twitter.com/Richardvines
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net
Gordon Ramsay. The television chef’s Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s will close on June 30 after 12 years at the Mayfair. London hotel. Photographer: D Dipasupil/FilmMagic via Bloomberg
The Spotted Pig
Lonely Planet/Getty Images via Bloomberg
The Spotted Pig restaurant. Gordon Ramsay won the U.K. trademark on the name of the West Village, New York Restaurant. He handed it over to the New York owners.
The Spotted Pig restaurant. Gordon Ramsay won the U.K. trademark on the name of the West Village, New York Restaurant. He handed it over to the New York owners. Photographer: Lonely Planet/Getty Images via Bloomberg
Chef Mario Batali, a co-owner of the New York gastropub The Spotted Pig. Batali's New York restaurant Babbo has trademarks for Italy, Spain and Thailand. Gordon Ramsay has the trademark in the U.K. and handed it to the New York owners. Photographer: Melanie Dunea/BWR Public Relations via Bloomberg
Jamie Oliver
Richard Vines/ Bloomberg.
Jamie Oliver objected to Gordon Ramsay's application for "The Spotted Pig" trade mark. He said "originals" are valued in London.
Jamie Oliver objected to Gordon Ramsay's application for "The Spotted Pig" trade mark. He said "originals" are valued in London. Photographer: Richard Vines/ Bloomberg.
April Bloomfield on Dean Street, in London's Soho. The British-born chef is a co-owner of New York restaurant, The Spotted Pig. Photographer: Richard Vines/Bloomberg
Jay Z, a co-owner of New York restaurant, The Spotted Pig. Other owners include Bono, and chefs Mario Batali and April Bloomfield. Photographer: Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic via Bloomberg
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