Case study - External stakeholders
“A decision to grant a Welsh company a trademark for the words ‘cariad’, ‘hiraeth’ and ‘Welsh cake’ has been heavily criticised.”
Bridgend-based Fizzy Foam was successful in its bid to register the words ‘cariad’, ‘hiraeth’ and ‘Welshcake’ as trademarks for its candles. This would have prevented other businesses from using the words on similar products.
Fizzy Foam’s competitors were very concerned about the decision.
(c) Steven Goldstone.
“As far as my business is concerned, I have a range of candles with ‘cariad’ on them. I wouldn’t be able to sell those,
I don’t think it’s right that an individual business is able to trademark such terms.”
Amanda James, head of Gweni, a company which also produces candles in Bridgend, said the decision will have a significant impact on her business.
It wasn’t only the competitors who were unhappy. A petition was launched against the decision and one Welsh company produced T-shirts with the words on them as a protest.
Eventually the company voluntarily surrendered its trademarks.
What stakeholders are mentioned?
Do you think the incident had a negative or positive impact on Fizzy Foam?