LEGAL BRIEFS

'Buff butlers' businesses at war over claims of intellectual property infringement claims

- By DAN HAYGARTH

Hunky Butler Service is a Liverpool-based business that provides 'buff butlers' for parties

A LIVERPOOL business which provides 'buff butlers' for parties says it faces an 'unfair' legal battle with another company over a term it has used to describe its staff.

Hunky Butler Service was founded in 2014 and operates nationally but is based at offices on Renshaw Street in Liverpool city centre.

Its 'buff butlers, dressed in no more than bow ties and aprons covering their modesty, provide entertainment for events such as hen parties, life-drawing classes and cocktail classes.

However, a Hunky Butler Service spokesperson told the ECHO the company has been hit with a potential claim over trademark infringement for its prior use of the term 'butlers in the buff.

The business claims this is a term used widely to describe those working in the industry.

However, a national company called Butlers in the Buff says it has trademark rights and disputes the idea that it has acted unfairly, telling the ECHO: "We are obliged to protect our intellectual property and prevent confusion in the marketplace."