Nice try Rex

[pinkpanther1]

From the SMH:

Dirty dog airline business when one airline tries to steal another airline's branded seats. Now Rex has to pay both their own and Virgin's legal and court costs Rex has failed in a cheeky attempt to trademark for itself the term “Economy X” first used by Virgin Australia to describe extra legroom seats. The dispute blew up when Rex started leasing former Virgin Australia Boeing 737 jets without making any changes to the interior cabins. It’s understood Virgin Australia asked Rex to remove the Economy X branding on relevant seats, but Rex refused on the basis its rival had not formally trademarked the term. To make matters worse, Rex then applied to the Registrar of Trade Marks to claim ownership of Economy X for itself, which would have had ramifications for Virgin Australia’s own use of the branding. Virgin Australia opposed Rex’s application, arguing it created the brand in 2016 and launched it in marketing and sales from February 2017. Rex’s case disputed Virgin Australia’s claim of ownership over Economy X, saying it was a “description of class of service, or seat class”. “Evidence is provided in support of this view, including a website dated 2016, showing that Qantas uses the letter ‘X’ as the class code for flight rewards/award bookings in economy class,” said the ruling by Registrar of Trade Marks’ delegate Nicholas Butson. Rex also asserted that even if the brand was a trademark owned by Virgin Australia, it was an unregistered trademark and the intellectual property rights were vague, due to the airline’s change of ownership in 2020. Mr Butson’s ruling said a trademark did not necessarily have to be registered for ownership to be established. He said ownership could instead be established through “authorship and use of a trademark”. “This ground does not require (Virgin Australia) to establish that it is the owner, merely that there is an earlier claim to ownership based on use by someone other than the (Rex),” wrote Mr Butson. He found Virgin Australia had provided sufficient evidence of its authorship of Economy X and use of the trademark before Rex. Costs were awarded against Rex in the matter. A Virgin Australia spokesman said they were “pleased with the decision which found the airline had clearly established use of the Economy X mark over the past six years”. “Virgin Australia’s Economy X product was an Australian-first when it was launched in 2017, providing our economy guests with extra legroom and an enhanced travel experience,” he said. Virgin Australia’s application for the term to be trademarked, had since been accepted by the Australian Trade Mark Office. A Rex spokesman declined to comment on the ruling other than to point out the airline had adopted the term “Rextra” seating for the rows previously designated Economy X. Rex made the decision to expand its network to major city routes when there was some doubt whether Virgin Australia would recover from financial collapse in April 2020. As a result of the administration, Virgin Australia underwent a major fleet reduction, which led to Rex being able to lease a number of Boeing 737-800s at bargain-basement rates.

[PoppaJo]

They are a disgrace. Nothing new. Behaviour on point.

Virgin should also ask them to remove the Virgin unique purple/red/grey headrest colour palette, and the purple divider. Go them one more I say. Amazed the yanks have let these fools get away with that for this long.

[SHVC]

Yes I did read this yesterday. What would something like this cost Rex?

[TBM-Legend]

Yes I did read this yesterday. What would something like this cost Rex?


more free publicity for REX being bullied by the big end of town is their spin. Sharpie master of this.

[neville_nobody]

more free publicity for REX being bullied by the big end of town is their spin. Sharpie master of this.


Exactly. It will be that followed by ‘Qantas are poaching all my pilots’. Of course no journalist ever points out that he’s a big believer in free markets and liberty whilst complaining that people are resigning for 2-3x increase in salary, they just run the poaching headline.

[43Inches]

Exactly. It will be that followed by ‘Qantas are poaching all my pilots’. Of course no journalist ever points out that he’s a big believer in free markets and liberty whilst complaining that people are resigning for 2-3x increase in salary, they just run the poaching headline.

It's not about money this time, its lifestyle issues and treatment.

[gamma69]

Standard Rex affair, Dinosaurs at the top. Non creative or innovative.

What is next? Mid Seat Raffle: First prize, Scones and Clotted cream.

[dr dre]

Of course no journalist ever points out that he’s a big believer in free markets

Such a free market believer he accepted all those taxpayer funded handouts, I see that he’s even got a model Rex Saab displayed prominently behind Deputy Opposition Leader Susssan Ley in her office whenever she’s on TV.

I guess a small gift was the least he could do…..

[jookisa]

It's pretty disappointing to hear about Rex trying to steal Virgin Australia's branding for Economy X. I can understand why Virgin Australia would want to protect their brand, especially since they were the first ones to come up with it back in 2016. It's good to see that the Registrar of Trade Marks ruled in Virgin Australia's favor and awarded them costs in the matter. It's also interesting that Rex has now decided to call their extra legroom seating "Rextra" instead. I guess it just goes to show how competitive the airline industry can be.

[PoppaJo]

They agreed with the previous NSW state government that they would create 1200 new direct jobs by June 2024, and got tens of millions in taxpayer grants as part of the jobs plus program, which they are using to buy a new 737 simulator and new hangers.

The only thing is, they haven’t done anywhere near that, and barely moved the needle in creating any jobs let alone doubling the Rex headcount. Do we get our cash back if they don’t create any jobs?

The South Australian tourism body successfully took Tiger to court when they accepted tax payer grants, then closed the base and kept the cash.

[Wizofoz]

They agreed with the previous NSW state government that they would create 1200 new direct jobs by June 2024, and got tens of millions in taxpayer grants as part of the jobs plus program, which they are using to buy a new 737 simulator and new hangers.

The only thing is, they haven’t done anywhere near that, and barely moved the needle in creating any jobs let alone doubling the Rex headcount. Do we get our cash back if they don’t create any jobs?

The South Australian tourism body successfully took Tiger to court when they accepted tax payer grants, then closed the base and kept the cash.

Shows how much smarter Qantas are. When THEY receive millions in tax-payers money, they make sure it's no strings attached.

[Ladloy]

It's pretty disappointing to hear about Rex trying to steal Virgin Australia's branding for Economy X. I can understand why Virgin Australia would want to protect their brand, especially since they were the first ones to come up with it back in 2016. It's good to see that the Registrar of Trade Marks ruled in Virgin Australia's favor and awarded them costs in the matter. It's also interesting that Rex has now decided to call their extra legroom seating "Rextra" instead. I guess it just goes to show how competitive the airline industry can be.
Rextra has been used on the saab for years before covid.

[Deano969]

Did I miss something or did VA only register Economy X on March 11 2021 while REX already had 3 ex VA 737s with Economy X branding in fleet
Did VA really just forget to take a trade mark out on Economy X until it was almost too late

I think that VA were very lucky to get away with the win....
BTW Economy EX is available....

The below looks like a bit of a rush job

Date Description
26 Apr 2023 Application Accepted correspondence sent
26 Apr 2023 IP Right has been Examined
26 Apr 2023 IP Right Acceptance Published Trade mark details » (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/search/view-publication?markId=2162034&historyId=000000000000000000000074360645) 26 Apr 2023 Status change to Accepted
24 Apr 2023 Examination Response Received
20 Apr 2023 Adverse Report (Examination) correspondence sent
20 Apr 2023 IP Right has been Examined
19 Apr 2023 Deferral of Acceptance Ended Notice correspondence sent
19 Apr 2023 Terminate Deferral
15 Mar 2022 General Correspondence sent
15 Mar 2022 Deferment of Acceptance More (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/#) 09 Mar 2022 Deferral of Acceptance Requested
10 Feb 2022 International Registration Received
18 Jan 2022 General Request Initiated
25 Nov 2021 General Request Initiated
19 Mar 2021 IP Right has been Examined
15 Mar 2021 Examination expedited
12 Mar 2021 Awaiting examination
12 Mar 2021 IP Right Filed correspondence sent
11 Mar 2021 IP Right Filed Published Trade mark details » (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/search/view-publication?markId=2162034&historyId=000000000000000000000047841891)
11 Mar 2021 Status change to Published
11 Mar 2021 Status change to Filed
11 Mar 2021 Minimum Filing Requirements Considered
11 Mar 2021 IP Right Goods and Services Items updated More (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/#)
11 Mar 2021 IP right goods and service classes updated More (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/#)
11 Mar 2021 Status change to Received
11 Mar 2021 Trade mark representation updated
11 Mar 2021 Application Received
11 Mar 2021 Expedite Work Initiated

[markis10]

Did I miss something or did VA only register Economy X on March 11 2021 while REX already had 3 ex VA 737s with Economy X branding in fleet
Did VA really just forget to take a trade mark out on Economy X until it was almost too late

I think that VA were very lucky to get away with the win....
BTW Economy EX is available....

The below looks like a bit of a rush job

Date Description
26 Apr 2023 Application Accepted correspondence sent
26 Apr 2023 IP Right has been Examined
26 Apr 2023 IP Right Acceptance Published Trade mark details » (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/search/view-publication?markId=2162034&historyId=000000000000000000000074360645) 26 Apr 2023 Status change to Accepted
24 Apr 2023 Examination Response Received
20 Apr 2023 Adverse Report (Examination) correspondence sent
20 Apr 2023 IP Right has been Examined
19 Apr 2023 Deferral of Acceptance Ended Notice correspondence sent
19 Apr 2023 Terminate Deferral
15 Mar 2022 General Correspondence sent
15 Mar 2022 Deferment of Acceptance More (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/#) 09 Mar 2022 Deferral of Acceptance Requested
10 Feb 2022 International Registration Received
18 Jan 2022 General Request Initiated
25 Nov 2021 General Request Initiated
19 Mar 2021 IP Right has been Examined
15 Mar 2021 Examination expedited
12 Mar 2021 Awaiting examination
12 Mar 2021 IP Right Filed correspondence sent
11 Mar 2021 IP Right Filed Published Trade mark details » (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/search/view-publication?markId=2162034&historyId=000000000000000000000047841891)
11 Mar 2021 Status change to Published
11 Mar 2021 Status change to Filed
11 Mar 2021 Minimum Filing Requirements Considered
11 Mar 2021 IP Right Goods and Services Items updated More (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/#)
11 Mar 2021 IP right goods and service classes updated More (https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/#)
11 Mar 2021 Status change to Received
11 Mar 2021 Trade mark representation updated
11 Mar 2021 Application Received
11 Mar 2021 Expedite Work Initiated

No big deal, authorship and use of the trademark was well established since 2017 which is why they one, probably just a legal intern formalising things.

[Chris2303]

The South Australian tourism body successfully took Tiger to court when they accepted tax payer grants, then closed the base and kept the cash.

Did they win and if so, did they get the money?

[PoppaJo]

Did they win and if so, did they get the money?
They clawed back $1.4m. 800k they could not. Not bad considering they refused to pay taxpayers back a single cent when the case started, pricks.

In regards to Rex, and Covid rorts aside, they have stated to the Government that they will double its workforce by mid next year. I don't think anyone believed that Rex could double its headcount in a few short years, even over a medium term. If they said, they couldn't create those jobs, they wouldn't have got the cash, it was specifically a Jobs Plus grant, not build me a free 737 sim grant. Politicians are just so gullible, the ribbon cutting opportunity with the press is the most important bit right?

Tiger wanted 30 aircraft in a couple of years, took 13 years to get just over half that. Bonza came out with some large figure also, Rex have stated they wanted 30 aircraft also, still at 6 correct? Governments love it, they get to see what those fantasy fleet numbers do on paper so start chucking money around. Pity it never eventuates though.