Kellogg’s sues tennis champ for Special K copyright infringement

By Gill Hyslop

- Last updated on GMT

The Kellogg Company has owned the Special K trademark in Australia for the past 59 years. Pic: Kellogg's
The Kellogg Company has owned the Special K trademark in Australia for the past 59 years. Pic: Kellogg's
Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis is facing another battle on court: not to play tennis though, but to face off against the breakfast cereal giant.

What’s in a name? Well, everything, according to Kellogg’s. And to prove it, the company is taking Kokkinakis to court for using its intellectual property for commercial purposes.

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Purportedly, Kokkinakis, 21, wanted to use ‘Special K’ – his nickname - on a range of tennis wear and clothing.

However, Kellogg’s has owned the Special K trademark in Australia for the past 59 years and has started court proceedings to stop the player from using the name.

The Federal Court of Australia has sent the case to a mediation conference to be held in August to give Kellogg’s time to refine its case.

Kellogg’s dominates the Australian cereal market and promotes Special K as a healthy, low-fat, low-sugar breakfast, often featuring physical activity in its advertisements.

Kokkinakis reached world ranking of 69 in 2015 before a series of injuries sidelined him for 18 months.

The Davis Cup player made his singles return at this year’s French Open at Roland Garros, losing to Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

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