Boxpark takes legal action over ‘copycat’ Dubai pop-up scheme

Original: Boxpark in Shoreditch. Photograph: Boxpark

The founders of Boxpark, a Shoreditch pop-up mall made of shipping containers, is taking legal action against a ‘copycat’ scheme being built in Dubai.

Property company Meraas Holding LLC is to open a mall using the trademarked Boxpark name in the Wasl district of Dubai. According to its website, the planned shopping centre is to include 44 stores, restaurants and cafes.

Lawyers for the Shoreditch shopping centre have written to Meraas Holding demanding that it immediately ceases and desists its use of the Boxpark name.

Boxpark was built in 2011 and was trademarked in the UK, Europe, US, and internationally in 2010. But the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is not covered by the International Trademark System, and trademarks are registered locally.

In September 2014 Meraas Holding was granted the Boxpark trademark in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Roger Wade, CEO and Founder of Boxpark has appealed directly to Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, asking him to “encourage” the company to stop using the Boxpark name.

Mr Wade said: “Dubai and Sheik Mohammed have developed an excellent business relationship with the UK. We are confident that Sheik Mohammed and the Dubai Government would not actively look to copy our established brand, and we are appealing to the Dubai Government and Sheik Mohammed to encourage Meraas to comply with our reasonable demands.”