Amanj Ali, the owner of Colorado’s Chicken in Bury, Greater Manchester, recently had a problem with electric car maker Tesla. He lost a trademark dispute and had to pay £12,000. Mr. Ali had registered the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his takeaway business. But Tesla wanted to protect its own trademark for food and drink services in the UK. They said Mr. Ali’s trademark would use their reputation. Tesla didn’t say anything about it, but Mr. Ali said they didn’t object to his trademark when they had the chance.

Mr. Ali said he named his business after Nikola Tesla, a smart Serbian-American inventor. In November 2021, he got an email from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). It said Tesla tried to register the name “Tesla” for the same kind of business as his. Mr. Ali didn’t want that because he thought it would hurt his own trademark and his business.

As expected, in September 2022, Tesla asked to cancel Mr. Ali’s trademark. They said his use of “Tesla” would unfairly use their good reputation. The IPO agreed with Tesla, and Mr. Ali had to pay £4,000. He had already spent about £8,000 on lawyers. Tesla said they had a good reputation in the food and drinks industry because of a tweet by Elon Musk in 2018. He said they wanted to open a restaurant with the Tesla name. But the IPO didn’t think that was a good enough reason.

Mr. Ali said he would have appealed the decision if he had the money. But the two-year-long problem had already caused him a lot of stress. He was frustrated because he’s a small business owner and Tesla is a big company owned by the richest man in the world. According to papers from the court, Tesla said Mr. Ali offered to sell his trademark for £750,000. But Mr. Ali said that was a mistake from his old lawyer. He said he never wanted to sell his trademark to Tesla and would only think about it if they offered a lot more money.

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

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary

Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. They should try to include important details and key information. After both partners have had a chance to summarize, they can compare their summaries and discuss any differences or additional information they included.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will discuss and debate the following question: “Do you think Tesla was justified in asking to cancel Mr. Ali’s trademark?” After the discussion, each group will conduct a quick opinion poll within their group to determine the majority opinion. Then, each group will share their findings with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns selecting a vocabulary word from the article and drawing a quick sketch of it on a piece of paper. Their partner must then guess the word based on the sketch alone. After each round, partners will switch roles.

– Pros and Cons

Instructions: In small groups, students will brainstorm and discuss the pros and cons of trademark protection. They should consider both the perspective of small business owners like Mr. Ali and large companies like Tesla. After their discussion, each group will share their main points with the class.

– Future Predictions

Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns making predictions about what might happen next in the case between Mr. Ali and Tesla. They should base their predictions on the information from the article and their own reasoning. After they have shared their predictions with each other, they can discuss any similarities or differences in their predictions.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did Amanj Ali have to pay £12,000?
2. Why did Tesla want to protect its trademark?
3. Who did Mr. Ali name his business after?
4. Why did Mr. Ali not want Tesla to register the name “Tesla” for the same kind of business?
5. How much did Mr. Ali have to pay as a result of the trademark dispute?
6. Why did Tesla believe they had a good reputation in the food and drinks industry?
7. Why did Mr. Ali decide not to appeal the decision?
8. According to court papers, what mistake did Mr. Ali’s old lawyer make?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Amanj Ali, the (1)______ of Colorado’s Chicken in Bury, Greater Manchester, recently had a problem with electric car (2)______ (3)______. He lost a trademark dispute and had to pay £12,000. Mr. Ali had (4)______ the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his takeaway business. But Tesla wanted to protect its own trademark for food and drink services in the UK. They said Mr. Ali’s trademark would use their reputation. Tesla didn’t say anything about it, but Mr. Ali said they didn’t object to his (5)______ when they had the chance.

Mr. Ali said he named his business after Nikola Tesla, a (6)______ Serbian-American (7)______. In November 2021, he got an email from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). It said Tesla tried to (8)______ the name “Tesla” for the same kind of business as his. Mr. Ali didn’t want that because he thought it would hurt his own trademark and his business.

As expected, in September 2022, Tesla asked to cancel Mr. Ali’s trademark. They said his use of “Tesla” would unfairly use their good reputation. The IPO agreed with Tesla, and Mr. Ali had to pay £4,000. He had already spent about £8,000 on lawyers. Tesla said they had a good reputation in the food and drinks (9)______ because of a (10)______ by Elon Musk in 2018. He said they wanted to open a restaurant with the Tesla name. But the IPO didn’t think that was a good (11)______ reason.

Mr. Ali said he would have appealed the (12)______ if he had the money. But the two-year-long (13)______ had already caused him a lot of stress. He was frustrated because he’s a small business owner and Tesla is a big company owned by the richest man in the world. According to papers from the court, Tesla said Mr. Ali (14)______ to sell his trademark for £750,000. But Mr. Ali said that was a mistake from his old (15)______. He said he never (16)______ to sell his trademark to Tesla and would only think about it if they offered a lot more money.
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 do you think Mr. Ali felt when he had to pay £12,000 for the trademark dispute?
3. Do you think Tesla was right to protect its own trademark? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you received an email from a big company asking to cancel your trademark?
5. Do you think it’s fair that Mr. Ali had to pay £4,000 and spend £8,000 on lawyers? Why or why not?
6. What do you think about Mr. Ali’s claim that Tesla didn’t object to his trademark when they had the chance?
7. If you were in Mr. Ali’s position, would you have appealed the decision? Why or why not?
8. How do you think Mr. Ali’s business was affected by the trademark dispute?
9. Do you think it’s fair for a big company to go after a small business owner’s trademark? Why or why not?
10. How do you think Mr. Ali felt when he found out Tesla wanted to open a restaurant with the Tesla name?
11. Do you think it’s important for businesses to have a good reputation? Why or why not?
12. How do you think Mr. Ali felt when he realized he couldn’t afford to appeal the decision?
13. What would you do if a big company offered to buy your trademark for a lot of money?
14. Do you think it’s fair for a small business owner to ask for a lot of money for their trademark? Why or why not?
15. How do you think Mr. Ali’s experience with Tesla has affected his view of big companies?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. trademark
2. dispute
3. registered
4. reputation
5. objection
6. inventor
7. Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
8. cancel
9. unfairly
10. lawyers
11. appealed
12. stress
13. frustrated
14. mistake
15. offered

Meanings:
(A) Suggested or proposed something for consideration or acceptance
(B) In a way that is not fair or just
(C) A formal disagreement or challenge to something
(D) An error or wrong action
(E) A feeling of being very worried or anxious about something
(F) A government agency that deals with the legal side of ideas, inventions, and trademarks
(G) To formally challenge a decision or ask for it to be reviewed
(H) To officially say that something is no longer valid or active
(I) Feeling upset and annoyed because of obstacles or challenges
(J) A disagreement or argument about something important
(K) A person who creates new things or has original ideas
(L) Signed up officially for something, like a name or a product, to be recognized legally
(M) People who practice law and can give legal advice or represent others in court
(N) The general opinion that people have about someone or something
(O) A special sign or name that a company uses on its products to show they belong to them
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did Amanj Ali have to pay £12,000?
(a) He wanted to protect his own trademark.
(b) Tesla objected to his trademark.
(c) He named his business after Nikola Tesla.
(d) He lost a trademark dispute with Tesla.

2. Who wanted to protect their trademark for food and drink services in the UK?
(a) Amanj Ali
(b) Tesla
(c) Intellectual Property Office
(d) Elon Musk

3. What did Tesla say about Mr. Ali’s trademark?
(a) It was named after Nikola Tesla.
(b) They didn’t object to it.
(c) It would use their reputation.
(d) It would hurt their own trademark.

4. What did the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) decide?
(a) They agreed with Mr. Ali.
(b) They agreed with Tesla.
(c) They didn’t think Tesla had a good enough reason.
(d) They thought Mr. Ali’s use of “Tesla” was fair.

5. Why did Mr. Ali have to pay £4,000?
(a) He lost the trademark dispute.
(b) He offered to sell his trademark to Tesla.
(c) The IPO agreed with Tesla.
(d) He spent a lot of money on lawyers.

6. Why did Mr. Ali say he would have appealed the decision?
(a) If he had the money.
(b) If the IPO disagreed with Tesla.
(c) If Tesla offered more money.
(d) If the problem hadn’t caused him stress.

7. Why was Mr. Ali frustrated?
(a) He is a small business owner.
(b) Tesla is a big company.
(c) Tesla is owned by the richest man in the world.
(d) All of the above.

8. What did Tesla say Mr. Ali offered to sell his trademark for?
(a) £12,000
(b) £4,000
(c) A lot more money
(d) £750,000

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Tesla claimed that Mr. Ali’s trademark would use their reputation.
2. Tesla wanted to protect its own trademark for food and drink services in the UK.
3. Mr. Ali contemplated challenging the ruling but couldn’t because of financial limitations.
4. Mr. Ali applied for the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his fast-food business.
5. Tesla asked to cancel Mr. Ali’s trademark, and he had to pay £4,000.
6. Mr. Ali named his business after Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor.
7. Amanj Ali, the proprietor of Colorado’s Chicken in Bury, was involved in a trademark disagreement with electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla.
8. Tesla referenced a tweet by Elon Musk in 2018 as proof of their standing in the food and beverages sector.
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. Why did Amanj Ali have to pay £12,000?
2. Why did Tesla want to cancel Mr. Ali’s trademark?
3. How did Mr. Ali come up with the name for his business?
4. Why did Mr. Ali not want Tesla to register the name “Tesla” for the same kind of business?
5. Why did Mr. Ali not appeal the decision to cancel his trademark?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did Amanj Ali have to pay £12,000?
– Amanj Ali had to pay £12,000 because he lost a trademark dispute with Tesla.

2. Why did Tesla want to protect its trademark?
– Tesla wanted to protect its trademark to prevent others from using their name and potentially damaging their reputation in the market.

3. Who did Mr. Ali name his business after?
– Mr. Ali named his business after Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor.

4. Why did Mr. Ali not want Tesla to register the name “Tesla” for the same kind of business?
– Mr. Ali did not want Tesla to register the name “Tesla” for the same kind of business because he believed it would harm his own trademark and his business.

5. How much did Mr. Ali have to pay as a result of the trademark dispute?
– Mr. Ali had to pay £12,000 as a result of the trademark dispute.

6. Why did Tesla believe they had a good reputation in the food and drinks industry?
– Tesla believed they had a good reputation in the food and drinks industry because of a tweet by Elon Musk in 2018 where he mentioned their intention to open a restaurant with the Tesla name.

7. Why did Mr. Ali decide not to appeal the decision?
– Mr. Ali decided not to appeal the decision because the two-year-long problem had already caused him a lot of stress and he did not have the money to continue the legal battle.

8. According to court papers, what mistake did Mr. Ali’s old lawyer make?
– According to court papers, Mr. Ali’s old lawyer made a mistake by suggesting that Mr. Ali offered to sell his trademark to Tesla for £750,000. However, Mr. Ali stated that he never wanted to sell his trademark and would only consider it if Tesla offered a significantly higher amount.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) owner
(2) maker
(3) Tesla
(4) registered
(5) trademark
(6) smart
(7) inventor
(8) register
(9) industry
(10) tweet
(11) enough
(12) decision
(13) problem
(14) offered
(15) lawyer
(16) wanted
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. trademark
Answer: (O) A special sign or name that a company uses on its products to show they belong to them

2. dispute
Answer: (J) A disagreement or argument about something important

3. registered
Answer: (L) Signed up officially for something, like a name or a product, to be recognized legally

4. reputation
Answer: (N) The general opinion that people have about someone or something

5. objection
Answer: (C) A formal disagreement or challenge to something

6. inventor
Answer: (K) A person who creates new things or has original ideas

7. Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
Answer: (F) A government agency that deals with the legal side of ideas, inventions, and trademarks

8. cancel
Answer: (H) To officially say that something is no longer valid or active

9. unfairly
Answer: (B) In a way that is not fair or just

10. lawyers
Answer: (M) People who practice law and can give legal advice or represent others in court

11. appealed
Answer: (G) To formally challenge a decision or ask for it to be reviewed

12. stress
Answer: (E) A feeling of being very worried or anxious about something

13. frustrated
Answer: (I) Feeling upset and annoyed because of obstacles or challenges

14. mistake
Answer: (D) An error or wrong action

15. offered
Answer: (A) Suggested or proposed something for consideration or acceptance
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did Amanj Ali have to pay £12,000?
Answer: (d) He lost a trademark dispute with Tesla.

2. Who wanted to protect their trademark for food and drink services in the UK?
Answer: (b) Tesla

3. What did Tesla say about Mr. Ali’s trademark?
Answer: (c) It would use their reputation.

4. What did the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) decide?
Answer: (b) They agreed with Tesla.

5. Why did Mr. Ali have to pay £4,000?
Answer: (c) The IPO agreed with Tesla.

6. Why did Mr. Ali say he would have appealed the decision?
Answer: (a) If he had the money.

7. Why was Mr. Ali frustrated?
Answer: (a) He is a small business owner.

8. What did Tesla say Mr. Ali offered to sell his trademark for?
Answer: (d) £750,000
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Tesla claimed that Mr. Ali’s trademark would use their reputation. (Answer: True)
2. Tesla wanted to protect its own trademark for food and drink services in the UK. (Answer: True)
3. Mr. Ali contemplated challenging the ruling but couldn’t because of financial limitations. (Answer: False)
4. Mr. Ali applied for the trademark “Tesla Chicken & Pizza” for his fast-food business. (Answer: False)
5. Tesla asked to cancel Mr. Ali’s trademark, and he had to pay £4,000. (Answer: True)
6. Mr. Ali named his business after Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor. (Answer: True)
7. Amanj Ali, the proprietor of Colorado’s Chicken in Bury, was involved in a trademark disagreement with electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla. (Answer: False)
8. Tesla referenced a tweet by Elon Musk in 2018 as proof of their standing in the food and beverages sector. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧