Firecraft - Landmark High Court Ruling

In 2000 Focal Point started to use the name 'Firecraft' as a brand name for their gas fires building up a network of approximately 650 active accounts through the trade. This lead to great confusion with regards to the Firecraft solid stone fireplaces brand and resulted in a significant loss of sales.

Last year Firecraft was sucessful in the Trade Marks Registry of the UK Intellectual Property Office in applying to invalidate Focal Point Fires PLC's trade mark for the word FIRECRAFT.

Firecraft based their application on the fact that they had a substantial goodwill in the name Firecraft and that Focal Point's use would be likely to damage the goodwill Firecraft had developed over the years in the name, Focal point did not appeal the registry decision.

Firecraft then, in March 2009, issued High Court proceedings at Focal Point suing for passing off. A hearing took place before the High Court and on 10th November 2009 judgement was handed down in Firecraft's favour.

As the owner of Firecraft Solid Stone Fireplaces, I would like to confirm our continued commitment to making fine quality hand crafted solid stone fireplaces in the UK and look forward to our future sucess.

Bill Evans