Red card for 'Celtic' goods

Parkhead is a mile from "Timland"

A judge has blown the whistle on a shop in Glasgow which is alleged to have been selling Celtic FC souvenirs in breach of the club's trademarks.

Lord Kingarth granted Celtic's application for an order to stop the shop, called "Timland", from selling or advertising goods bearing the word Celtic, other than those placed on the market with its consent.

He also ordered that memorabilia at the centre of the dispute should be delivered to the court pending any final decision in the case.

The Court of Session heard that Celtic turned over £10m in merchandising in the year up to June 2002 and has 55 UK and seven European Community trademarks.

The club said these gave it the exclusive right to use Celtic, Celtic FC, the club crest and the slogan, The Bhoys, on goods.

The club raised an intellectual property action against the owner of "Timland", Colin Girasoli, of Kings Park Road, Kings Park, Glasgow.

Items removed

Celtic's counsel Fiona Lake said the club it supplied its branded merchandise by mail order, through nine official outlets and authorised retailers.

Mrs Lake said Mr Girasoli owned a shop in the Gallowgate - about a mile from Celtic Park - called "Timland" and used to operate another named "Junior Timland".

Shortly before Christmas trading standards officers visited the premises and removed more than 2,000 items bearing Celtic trademarks, which were not official authorised merchandise. In January more items were removed.

Mrs Lake said Mr Girasoli had subsequently given the club an undertaking not to sell goods bearing its marks, which had not been placed on the market by Celtic.

"Notwithstanding that he has continued to sell goods bearing the marks," she told the court.

She said that earlier this month club representatives bought a CD, a mug and a polo shirt from his shop in the Gallowgate all bearing the word Celtic.

Champions League imminent

Celtic was extremely concerned that with the football season starting in three weeks time and the Champions League in two weeks time thousands of fans would be passing the Gallowgate on the way to home matches.

Mrs Lake added: "There is a high value to Celtic in its brand of merchandise."

Lord Kingarth said it was clear on reading Celtic's submissions and seeing productions lodged with the court that the club had a strong prima facie case.

Mr Girasoli was not represented at the hearing.