Medieval Instances Sues Its Employees’ Union Alleging ‘Trademark Infringement’

Medieval Instances has sued the union representing its workers at a New Jersey fort, alleging it has infringed at the dinner-theater chain’s trademark.

In its lawsuit filed Thursday in federal courtroom, Medieval Instances stated the union, the American Guild of Selection Artists, had created “client confusion” via permitting staff to make use of the title “Medieval Instances Performers United.”

The corporate claims the union is “threatening the established goodwill of Medieval Instances” via together with the chain’s title and medieval-themed imagery in its title and brand.

“The weather featured within the Medieval Instances Performers Emblem (i.e., fort, swords, outdated script taste textual content) all resemble parts of Medieval Instances’s branding and center ages-themed décor, that are obviously intended to awaken Medieval Instances’ distinctive symbol,” the corporate stated in its lawsuit.

Medieval Instances may no longer be reached for remark.

The union stated in a commentary that the lawsuit was once “frivolous” and intended to intimidate workers who’re seeking to arrange. The union would possibly make a selection to record fees with the Nationwide Exertions Family members Board arguing that the lawsuit itself violates staff’ rights.

“This is a ugly try to retaliate towards staff for exercising their legally secure proper to shape a union and discount jointly. However it’s going to fail,” the AGVA stated. “It’s going to no longer handiest embolden Medieval Instances’ workers at its New Jersey fort to battle tougher for a good contract, it’s going to encourage the workers at its different castles around the county to prepare and do the similar.”

Medieval Instances has 9 castles within the U.S. and one in Canada. Knights, squires, stablehands and actors at Medieval Instances’ Lyndhurst, New Jersey, location changed into the corporate’s first to prepare in July, once they voted 26 to 11 in choose of unionizing. Employees at a Medieval Instances in Buena Park, California, have additionally petitioned for a union election that has no longer but been scheduled.

“They deal with numerous the professionally skilled actors like any one can do that activity. They deal with numerous the stablehands like we’re totally replaceable,” one employee advised HuffPost previous this 12 months.

Medieval Instances antagonistic the union effort and employed an anti-union marketing consultant in New Jersey at the price of $3,200 in line with day, plus bills. The union has filed unfair exertions apply fees towards the corporate, alleging control has violated staff’ collective bargaining rights.

With its new lawsuit, the corporate alleges that the union’s moniker creates the “impact” that the union is “formally affiliated with Medieval Instances.”

“Regardless of wholly adopting the Medieval Instances Mark in addition to many Medieval Instances-adjacent parts in its branding and advertising and marketing, Medieval Instances Performers makes no try to disclaim any association with Medieval Instances by means of a disclaimer at the Medieval Instances Performers Web site or in a different way,” the corporate claims.

Medieval Instances claims the union’s imagery “may result in the improper impact” that the union is “by some means counseled” via the corporate itself.

Many staff were organizing new unions in recent years below a variation of the “united” theme. Some examples are Starbucks Employees United, Dealer Joe’s United and House Depot Employees United.

To HuffPost’s wisdom, none of the ones firms have sued the employee organizations for alleged trademark infringement.

This tale has been up to date with remark from the AGVA.