A New Zealand district’s first Night Noodle Market had its one night of fame because the Ashburton District Council got a bit tangled around the market’s name. Turns out, “Night Noodle Market” is actually a trademark owned by media conglomerate Stuff Events. Who knew? Certainly not the council.
After receiving a letter from Stuff’s legal team, Jane Donaldson, the council’s compliance office, mused about coming up with a new, sizzling name for any sequel nights. With around 5,000 hungry souls showing up, the market was such a hit that there was talk of making it a regular night event.
This goes to show that even for something seemingly mundane as a night market, it is recommended to conduct a trademark search. Ashburton District Council is now forced to come up with a new name.