Oprah settles 'aha moment' case

Oprah Winfrey also uses the phrase on her website

Oprah Winfrey's production company Harpo and a US insurance firm have reached an amicable settlement over rights to the phrase "aha moment".

Earlier this year, Harpo asked the Mutual of Omaha to stop using the phrase to promote its products and creating an association with Winfrey.

The talk show host has often used the slogan on her programme to describe "flashes of understanding".

Representatives for Harpo and Mutual declined to give any further details.

Campaign

The Omaha-based company responded to Harpo's request with legal action stating it had obtained preliminary approval of a trademark on "aha moment".

Mutual also said it had conceived the slogan in early 2008 and encountered no opposition when it made its application to the US patents office.

Harpo made no response to Mutual's move asking a court to declare it had not infringed Winfrey's rights.

The insurance company asked for their claim to be dismissed last month.

They used the slogan in a website campaign in which users chose the best "aha moments" to be at the heart of a series of TV adverts.

The 10 stories are still appearing on their internet site, while the company calls itself "proud sponsor of life's aha moments".