When we heard of the latest product launch from France’s vertical publisher and social network business Glam One — owner of the “Glam” trademark in France — we wondered whether it would be a problem for US ad network Glam Media, which is planning to launch in France next year.
Glam Media told us: non, it won’t hinder its plans. But Glam One founder and former AOL (NYSE: TWX) exec Arnaud Fischer has hit back and warned it will “vigorously defend” its trademark.
Fischer writes in an email: “We feel we have a very strong vision for the Glam business in France and we are laser-focused on executing on that vision. But we are very surprised by the statement made by Glam Media yesterday and we feel obligated to react.
He reminds us that Glam.fr is “the only holder of the French trademark ‘Glam’ No. 3253547″ and has owned it since 2003. Fischer says he’s on the lookout for any “unauthorized commercial use of the word ‘Glam’ for goods or services either identical or similar”.
But, as Glam Media’s head of international Bernard Desarnauts told us, the two companies may be similar in some respects – but they do have different business models: Glam One has launched a social network and runs a series of portals based around the performing arts; Glam Media is a content aggregator and ad network that brings together female-focused articles from some 1,800 sites in four continents.
Desarnauts said it wasn’t Media’s intention to step on One’s toes – he added “we wish them well, I guess” – and he doesn’t expect to break any laws. Glam Media considered trademarking the Glam brand in some of its territories years ago, but decided against it – though it has owned the Glam.com domain since 1996.
Glam One’s trademark only protects it against businesses that are in the same field and it would be for the courts to decide whether Glam Media falls into that category.

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