The multibillion-dollar company brought a complaint against Skunk Works, motto “In the leaf we trust”, over the domain name ukskunkworks.co.uk.
The web address should be awarded to Lockheed Martin, lawyers for the aircraft manufacturer claimed, because Skunk Works is the name of its secret research laboratory in California where it developed the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter and the F-22 Raptor. It was also responsible for building the U-2 spy planes that flew over the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
The aircraft manufacturer sent a 1,000-page document to Nominet, the company that administers British domain names, in October asserting that it was already the owner of several European trademarks for “Skunk Works” and that the cannabis accessories shop was sullying its reputation.
The Bexleyheath business responded in November with a single sheet of paper. It won both the first hearing in January, when Nominet dismissed the complaint, and the appeal at the end of last month.
Max Mulley, owner of the London shop, said that Lockheed Martin’s claim that customers would be confused was ridiculous. “I don’t know what the confusion would have been — they sell aeroplanes and we sell smoking equipment. They are a multimillion-dollar company making aeroplanes and we’re a small shop in Bexleyheath.”
Mr Mulley, who estimates that his shop makes about £2,000 a month, did not hire any lawyers for the case. “I’ve done it all myself. They’ve got highflying lawyers. I’m guessing the whole thing has cost them about £40,000.”
The judging panel for Nominet said: “LMC’s original use of the name ‘skunk works’ was humorous, and a sense of humour may be appropriate to this situation,” it said. “There may be some comfort for LMC in the fact that many people have as little wish to be associated with military aircraft as have LMC to be associated with illegal drug use.”
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