Amanj Ali, the owner of Colorado’s Chicken in Bury, Greater Manchester, recently lost a trademark dispute against electric car maker Tesla, resulting in a loss of £12,000. Mr. Ali had registered the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his takeaway business and opposed Tesla’s attempt to protect its own trademark for food and drink services in the UK. Tesla argued that Mr. Ali’s trademark would exploit their reputation. Although Tesla has not commented on the matter, Mr. Ali claims that they did not object to his trademark during the usual two-month opposition period after registration.

Mr. Ali explained that he named his business after Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer, whom he admired for his intelligence. In November 2021, Mr. Ali received an email from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) informing him that Tesla had tried to register the name “Tesla” for the same class as his business. Mr. Ali opposed Tesla’s registration because he believed it would invalidate his own trademark and hinder the growth of his business.

As predicted, in September 2022, Tesla applied to invalidate Mr. Ali’s trademark, claiming that his use of “Tesla” would unfairly take advantage of their established reputation. The IPO agreed with Tesla, and Mr. Ali was ordered to pay £4,000 to the company. He had already spent around £8,000 in legal fees. Tesla had argued that they had “goodwill” in the food and drinks sector due to a tweet by Elon Musk in 2018 expressing their intention to open a restaurant under the Tesla name. However, the IPO dismissed this argument.

Mr. Ali stated that he would have appealed the decision if he had the money, but the two-year-long dispute had already caused him significant stress. He expressed frustration at the power imbalance between a small business owner like himself and a large company owned by the richest man in the world. According to court documents, Tesla claimed that Mr. Ali had offered to sell his trademark for £750,000, but Mr. Ali insists that this was a result of an error made by his previous solicitor. He maintains that he never intended to sell his trademark to Tesla and would have only considered an offer if it was significantly higher.

Original news source: Bury chicken shop boss loses £12,000 in Tesla trademark row (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article individually. Then, ask them to discuss the main points and key details of the article together. Finally, have each group present a summary of the article to the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article individually. Then, ask them to discuss their opinions on the trademark dispute between Amanj Ali and Tesla. Provide them with a list of questions to guide their discussion, such as “Do you think Tesla should have the exclusive right to the ‘Tesla’ trademark?” or “Do you think Mr. Ali should have chosen a different name for his business?” After the discussion, have each group present their opinions to the class.

– Word Association
Instructions: Choose several key words from the article, such as “trademark,” “Tesla,” “restaurant,” “reputation,” and “business.” Write each word on the board. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask each group to brainstorm as many words or phrases related to each key word as they can within a set time limit (e.g. 2 minutes per key word). Encourage them to think creatively and make connections between the words. After the time limit, have each group share their word associations with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select a handful of vocabulary words from the article, such as “trademark,” “exploit,” “reputation,” “oppose,” and “invalidate.” Write each word on a small slip of paper and place the slips in a bag or container. Divide the class into teams. One person from each team comes to the front of the class to draw a word from the bag. Without using any words or letters, they must draw a picture to represent the word. The rest of their team must guess the word within a set time limit (e.g. 1 minute). The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Assign each group either the role of Amanj Ali or Tesla. Ask each group to discuss the pros and cons of the trademark dispute from their assigned perspective. For example, the group representing Amanj Ali might discuss the potential negative impact on his business if Tesla were to register the “Tesla” trademark for food and drink services. Encourage each group to consider both sides of the argument. After the discussion, have each group present their pros and cons to the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did Amanj Ali register the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his takeaway business?
2. How did Tesla argue that Mr. Ali’s trademark would exploit their reputation?
3. What did the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) inform Mr. Ali in November 2021?
4. Why did Mr. Ali oppose Tesla’s registration of the name “Tesla”?
5. How much did Mr. Ali have to pay to Tesla as a result of the trademark dispute?
6. What argument did Tesla make regarding their “goodwill” in the food and drinks sector?
7. Why did Mr. Ali decide not to appeal the decision?
8. What does Mr. Ali claim about the offer to sell his trademark to Tesla?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Amanj Ali, the (1)______ of Colorado’s Chicken in Bury, Greater Manchester, recently lost a trademark dispute against electric car maker (2)______, resulting in a loss of £12,000. Mr. Ali had registered the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his (3)______ business and opposed Tesla’s attempt to protect its own trademark for food and drink services in the UK. Tesla (4)______ that Mr. Ali’s trademark would exploit their reputation. Although Tesla has not commented on the matter, Mr. Ali claims that they did not object to his trademark during the usual two-month opposition period after registration.

Mr. Ali explained that he named his business after Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American (5)______ and electrical engineer, whom he admired for his intelligence. In November 2021, Mr. Ali received an email from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) informing him that Tesla had tried to register the name “Tesla” for the same class as his business. Mr. Ali (6)______ Tesla’s registration because he believed it would invalidate his own trademark and (7)______ the (8)______ of his business.

As predicted, in September 2022, Tesla applied to (9)______ Mr. Ali’s trademark, claiming that his use of “Tesla” would unfairly take advantage of their established reputation. The IPO agreed with Tesla, and Mr. Ali was ordered to pay £4,000 to the (10)______. He had already spent around £8,000 in (11)______ fees. Tesla had argued that they had “goodwill” in the food and drinks sector due to a tweet by Elon Musk in 2018 expressing their intention to open a restaurant under the Tesla name. However, the IPO dismissed this argument.

Mr. Ali (12)______ that he would have appealed the decision if he had the money, but the two-year-long dispute had already caused him significant stress. He expressed frustration at the power (13)______ between a small business owner like himself and a large company owned by the richest man in the world. According to court documents, Tesla claimed that Mr. Ali had (14)______ to sell his (15)______ for £750,000, but Mr. Ali (16)______ that this was a result of an error made by his previous solicitor. He maintains that he never intended to sell his trademark to Tesla and would have only considered an offer if it was significantly higher.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a trademark and why is it important for businesses?
2. How would you feel if you received a letter from a large company claiming that your business name infringes on their trademark?
3. Do you think it’s fair for a small business owner to lose a trademark dispute against a large company? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever had a dispute or conflict with another business or individual? How did you handle it?
5. What do you think about Mr. Ali’s decision to name his business after Nikola Tesla? Do you think it was a good choice?
6. How do you think Mr. Ali’s business might have been affected if he had been allowed to keep his trademark?
7. Have you ever faced a power imbalance in a situation? How did it make you feel?
8. Do you think it’s important for small businesses to be protected from larger companies? Why or why not?
9. How do you think the outcome of this trademark dispute might impact other small businesses?
10. What do you think about the role of the Intellectual Property Office in resolving disputes like this? Do you think they made the right decision?
11. Do you think it’s fair for a company to claim “goodwill” in a sector based on a tweet? Why or why not?
12. How do you think Mr. Ali’s stress levels might have been affected by the two-year-long dispute?
13. Have you ever faced a situation where you felt overwhelmed by the power or resources of another person or organization? How did you handle it?
14. What do you think about the claim that Mr. Ali offered to sell his trademark for £750,000? Do you think it was a genuine offer or a mistake?
15. How do you think this case highlights the challenges faced by small business owners in protecting their intellectual property?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. dispute
2. trademark
3. invalidate
4. reputation
5. goodwill
6. frustration
7. imbalance
8. solicitor
9. appeal
10. stress
11. hinder
12. significant
13. intention
14. admiration
15. exploit

Meanings:
(A) A symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product
(B) A thing intended; an aim or plan
(C) To make a serious or formal request, especially to a higher authority, for the reversal of a decision
(D) The feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something
(E) Large enough to be important or have an effect
(F) A disagreement or argument about something important
(G) Respect and warm approval
(H) The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something
(I) To use someone or something in a way that helps you unfairly
(J) A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances
(K) A friendly, helpful, or cooperative feeling or attitude
(L) To make something legally void or unenforceable
(M) A legal professional qualified to deal with conveyancing, the drawing up of wills, and other legal matters
(N) A lack of balance or equality between two things
(O) To create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the name of the takeaway business owned by Amanj Ali?
(a) Colorado’s Chicken in Bury
(b) Greater Manchester Takeaway
(c) Tesla Chicken & Pizza
(d) Ali’s Chicken Shack

2. Why did Tesla oppose Mr. Ali’s trademark registration?
(a) They wanted to open a restaurant under the Tesla name
(b) They wanted to buy Mr. Ali’s trademark
(c) They believed it would exploit their reputation
(d) They had a trademark for food and drink services in the UK

3. What was the result of the trademark dispute?
(a) Mr. Ali won and received compensation
(b) Tesla withdrew their opposition
(c) The court ruled in favor of Mr. Ali
(d) Mr. Ali lost and had to pay £12,000

4. Who did Mr. Ali name his business after?
(a) Nikola Tesla
(b) Elon Musk
(c) Thomas Edison
(d) Steve Jobs

5. Why did Mr. Ali oppose Tesla’s trademark registration?
(a) He wanted to sell his trademark to Tesla
(b) He believed it would invalidate his own trademark
(c) He wanted to open a restaurant under the Tesla name
(d) He admired Tesla’s reputation in the food and drinks sector

6. What argument did Tesla make to support their opposition to Mr. Ali’s trademark?
(a) They had “goodwill” in the food and drinks sector
(b) Mr. Ali had offered to sell his trademark to them
(c) They had a trademark for food and drink services in the UK
(d) Mr. Ali’s trademark was invalid

7. Why did Mr. Ali not appeal the decision?
(a) He believed the decision was fair
(b) He did not have the money to do so
(c) He did not want to prolong the dispute
(d) He was satisfied with the outcome

8. According to court documents, how much did Tesla claim Mr. Ali offered to sell his trademark for?
(a) £12,000
(b) £8,000
(c) No amount was mentioned in the court documents.
(d) £750,000

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Tesla objected to Mr. Ali’s trademark during the usual two-month opposition period after registration.
2. In November 2021, Mr. Ali received an email from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) informing him of Tesla’s attempt to register a different name than “Tesla” for the same class as his business.
3. Mr. Ali was ordered to pay £4,000 to Tesla and had already spent around £8,000 in legal fees.
4. Mr. Ali renamed his business after Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer.
5. Tesla applied to invalidate Mr. Ali’s trademark in September 2022, claiming that it would unfairly take advantage of their established reputation.
6. Amanj Ali, the owner of Colorado’s Chicken in Bury, Greater Manchester, lost a trademark dispute against electric car maker Tesla.
7. Mr. Ali had registered the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his takeaway business.
8. Tesla supported Mr. Ali’s trademark, stating that it would benefit their reputation.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What was the result of the trademark dispute between Amanj Ali and Tesla?
2. Why did Amanj Ali oppose Tesla’s attempt to register the name “Tesla”?
3. How much money did Amanj Ali lose as a result of the trademark dispute?
4. What argument did Tesla make to support their claim that Amanj Ali’s use of “Tesla” would exploit their reputation?
5. Why did Amanj Ali decide not to appeal the decision?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Amanj Ali registered the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his takeaway business because he admired Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer.
2. Tesla argued that Mr. Ali’s trademark would exploit their reputation by taking advantage of their established name and brand recognition.
3. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) informed Mr. Ali in November 2021 that Tesla had tried to register the name “Tesla” for the same class as his business.
4. Mr. Ali opposed Tesla’s registration of the name “Tesla” because he believed it would invalidate his own trademark and hinder the growth of his business.
5. As a result of the trademark dispute, Mr. Ali had to pay £4,000 to Tesla.
6. Tesla argued that they had “goodwill” in the food and drinks sector due to a tweet by Elon Musk in 2018 expressing their intention to open a restaurant under the Tesla name.
7. Mr. Ali decided not to appeal the decision because the two-year-long dispute had already caused him significant stress and he did not have the money to pursue an appeal.
8. Mr. Ali claims that the offer to sell his trademark to Tesla for £750,000 was a result of an error made by his previous solicitor. He maintains that he never intended to sell his trademark to Tesla and would have only considered an offer if it was significantly higher.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) owner
(2) Tesla
(3) takeaway
(4) argued
(5) inventor
(6) opposed
(7) hinder
(8) growth
(9) invalidate
(10) company
(11) legal
(12) stated
(13) imbalance
(14) offered
(15) trademark
(16) insists
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. dispute
Answer: (F) A disagreement or argument about something important

2. trademark
Answer: (A) A symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product

3. invalidate
Answer: (L) To make something legally void or unenforceable

4. reputation
Answer: (H) The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something

5. goodwill
Answer: (K) A friendly, helpful, or cooperative feeling or attitude

6. frustration
Answer: (D) The feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something

7. imbalance
Answer: (N) A lack of balance or equality between two things

8. solicitor
Answer: (M) A legal professional qualified to deal with conveyancing, the drawing up of wills, and other legal matters

9. appeal
Answer: (C) To make a serious or formal request, especially to a higher authority, for the reversal of a decision

10. stress
Answer: (J) A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances

11. hinder
Answer: (O) To create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction

12. significant
Answer: (E) Large enough to be important or have an effect

13. intention
Answer: (B) A thing intended; an aim or plan

14. admiration
Answer: (G) Respect and warm approval

15. exploit
Answer: (I) To use someone or something in a way that helps you unfairly
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the name of the takeaway business owned by Amanj Ali?
Answer: (c) Tesla Chicken & Pizza

2. Why did Tesla oppose Mr. Ali’s trademark registration?
Answer: (c) They believed it would exploit their reputation

3. What was the result of the trademark dispute?
Answer: (d) Mr. Ali lost and had to pay £12,000

4. Who did Mr. Ali name his business after?
Answer: (a) Nikola Tesla

5. Why did Mr. Ali oppose Tesla’s trademark registration?
Answer: (b) He believed it would invalidate his own trademark

6. What argument did Tesla make to support their opposition to Mr. Ali’s trademark?
Answer: (a) They had “goodwill” in the food and drinks sector

7. Why did Mr. Ali not appeal the decision?
Answer: (b) He did not have the money to do so

8. According to court documents, how much did Tesla claim Mr. Ali offered to sell his trademark for?
Answer: (d) £750,000
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Tesla objected to Mr. Ali’s trademark during the usual two-month opposition period after registration. (Answer: False)
2. In November 2021, Mr. Ali received an email from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) informing him of Tesla’s attempt to register a different name than “Tesla” for the same class as his business. (Answer: False)
3. Mr. Ali was ordered to pay £4,000 to Tesla and had already spent around £8,000 in legal fees. (Answer: True)
4. Mr. Ali renamed his business after Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer. (Answer: False)
5. Tesla applied to invalidate Mr. Ali’s trademark in September 2022, claiming that it would unfairly take advantage of their established reputation. (Answer: True)
6. Amanj Ali, the owner of Colorado’s Chicken in Bury, Greater Manchester, lost a trademark dispute against electric car maker Tesla. (Answer: True)
7. Mr. Ali had registered the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his takeaway business. (Answer: True)
8. Tesla supported Mr. Ali’s trademark, stating that it would benefit their reputation. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧