Irish Times to continue seeking injunction against London Times

The Irish Times is to proceed with an application for an injunction against the London Times over an Irish online edition of the English newspaper, the Commercial Court has heard.

The Irish Times will apply on Monday to re-enter its injunction proceedings in the court.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan gave liberty to Jonathan Newman SC, for The Irish Times, to re-enter the motion after being told newspaper group remains concerned in relation to alleged infringement of The Irish Times trademark and reference in promotion of planned digital publication.

The Irish Times wants an order restraining Times Newspapers Ltd promoting that digital publication using the names The Times Irish Edition or any other title confusingly similar to The Irish Times in any manner whatsoever, including by using that name as a domain name, Twitter account name or email address.

It also wants to stop Times Newspapers Ltd promoting or launching a new digital publication with a digital masthead as set out in mock-up seen by The Irish Times.

It is also seeking an order stopping the English newspaper using the “T” logo used at its Twitter account or any logo confusingly similar to the IT logo.

The court heard The Irish Times was particularly concerned about the digital context and that somebody searching on the internet for The Irish Times would come across the Times website. Undertakings had been given in relation to other matters of concern to The Irish Times, the court heard.

When the proceedings were entered into the Commercial Court list early last month, it was indicated to the court then that the matter might not trouble the court.

The new publication is a digital edition of the London Times and was due to be part of a seven-day subscription package with The Sunday Times.