Gap sends legal notice to namesake NGO

US apparel brand Gap has served a legal notice to a New

Delhi-based NGO for calling its stores selling up-cycled apparels, accessories and handicrafts ‘Green the Gap’. The notice has given a two-week ultimatum to the non-government organisation to stop using 'Green The Gap' name on stores, apparels and its website but the NGO is not ready to give up easily.

In a reply to the Gap notice, Green The Gap has said it uses its logo in a distinctive manner that is different from that of the trademark of the apparel giant. S Ashish Kanta Singh, a lawyer representing Gap, had served the legal notice on March 1. “Such unauthorised adaptation and use of the impugned mark and name in respect of goods/services which are identical to our clients' goods/services is clearly actuated by a mala fide intention to take undue advantage of our clients’ reputation and goodwill,” the legal notice said.

Started four years ago, Green The Gap currently operates two standalone stores, in Delhi and Mumbai, and also sells its products and through stockists in countries such as the Netherlands and Canada.