Kraftwerk Sues Tech Company Over Use Of Name - Noise11.com
Kraftwerk photo by Ros O'Gorman

Kraftwerk photo by Ros O'Gorman

Kraftwerk Sues Tech Company Over Use Of Name

by Roger Wink, VVN Music on March 11, 2015

in News

Kraftwerk have taken legal action against a tech form using its band name.

You’re on the road and need to use your phone, tablet or camera but it’s out of power. No problem. Just pull out your kraftwerk fuel cell and you are good to go.

Well, maybe not quite yet, at least if Ralf Hutter of the German electronica pioneers Kraftwerk has anything to say about it. Hutter has filed a lawsuit for trademark infringement against eZelleron, Inc., the company who has financed the production of the new product through KickStarter to the tune of $1.5 million.

The question is whether the group’s trademark actually extends to cover the kraftwerk name in the power/fuel cell market. Initial thoughts are that it doesn’t except for one small hitch, “kraftwerk” translates from German to English as “power station”.

The suit states “Defendant is taking advance orders for the KRAFTWERK charging device, therefore, consumers are likely to assume that there is a connection, association, or relationship between the famous electronic Music band and a charger for portable musical-playing devices.”

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

more from vvnmusic.com

Related Posts

Kraftwerk at MCA Melbourne 8 December 2023 photo by Winston Robinson, Noise11
Kraftwerk to Perform Eight Complete Albums At Nine Shows In LA

Kraftwerk will take up residency at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in May to perform eights albums over nine nights with the series concluding with a ‘Best Of’ setlist.

January 11, 2024
Kraftwerk at MCA Melbourne 8 December 2023 photo by Winston Robinson, Noise11
Kraftwerk Beam Down Into Melbourne Captain’s Log Stardate 0812230830pm #REVIEW

I wasn’t quite prepared for the “strap in and enjoy the ride’ experience of Kraftwerk. I hadn’t seen them live since the Big Day Out of 2003. It was still light when they came in, in the tent (not the outdoor stage) and they were wearing suits. Someone at the time commented that it was like watching four businessmen in the Qantas Club sending emails to each other.

December 9, 2023
Kraftwerk media photo supplied
The Meredith Thirty One Line-up Is Here

Meredith Thirty One will feature Kraftwerk, Alvvays and No Fixed Address for the 2023 season of the music festival.

August 17, 2023
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk To Play Australia and New Zealand In November/December

Kraftwerk will return to Australia and New Zealand for their first tour since the Big Day Out of 2003.

July 12, 2023
Kraftwerk photo by Ros O'Gorman
Kraftwerk Announce USA 2022 Dates

Just as Kraftwerk were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week the German legends have announced 2022 dates for North America.

November 3, 2021
Kraftwerk photo by Ros O'Gorman
Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk Dies Aged 73

Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider has died at age 73 following a battle with cancer.

May 7, 2020
Kraftwerk photo by Ros O'Gorman
Kraftwerk To Release 8 Disc Complete Catalogue As Live Performances

Over the past few years, Kraftwerk have played residencies at a number of art galleries and other venues around the world, performing one of eight studio albums in their entirety each night.

April 25, 2017