Why Black and Decker is trying to remove the ‘Stanley’ from the iconic mugs

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. According to Stanley Black and Decker, it reached an agreement in 1966 with PMI's predecessor, Aladdin, limiting the use of the name to "insulated containers adapted to keep their contents hot or cold." Stanley Black and Decker claims that PMI agreed in the updated agreement to use its company name — PMI — in conjunction with the Stanley name in order to differentiate the brands. "The parties thus entered into a series of agreements beginning in 1966 and continuing through 2012 to, among other things, prohibit PMI from using Stanley as its company name, limit PMI’s use of Stanley to specific categories of goods and place strict requirements on PMI’s website domain name and on how PMI’s advertising and goods had to be displayed and/or marked.” PMI has rejected the company's allegations, insisting it has the legal rights to the name for the products it sells. “ filing appears aimed at exploiting PMI’s Stanley brand affinity and fanbase, which has been carefully cultivated and nurtured over the past 100+ years.“ The lawsuit aims to stop PMI from selling products using the Stanley name in the future and is “PMI’s breach of contract and trademark infringement poses an imminent threat of irreparable harm to Stanley, the Stanley brand, and the goodwill and advantageous business relationships that Stanley has earned by using Stanley in commerce for almost two centuries,” the suit claims.