Iceland, Or Iceland...?

[anthro-nerd]

Relations certainly seem to be a little 'frosty'!!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/24/government-of-iceland-to-challenge-retail-chain-iceland-over-name-use

[jno]

I sympathise with the country - having food shops taking it to court for using its own name is a bit much.

[bhg481]

Haven't you got it back-to-front jno? The country is taking the shops to court, not the shops taking the country to court.
It would be most amusing if the country were made to change its name.

[hc4361]

I remember when it was called Bejam. The shop, not the country

[bhg481]

That was a buy-out hc4361, not just a name change.

[hc4361]

Yes, it was. I much preferred Bejam - a better class of frozen food in my opinion. Iceland mainly sells beige food

[bhg481]

We started with Bejam in the early 70's when you could buy 20lb packs of peas or carrots etc as an economy measure. We just use it for convenience now.

[jno]

bhg, no, the reason the country is doing this is because the shops keep suing anyone with Iceland in their name. Icelanders think they have been around longer and have a right to use their country's name.

[DTCwordfan]

what a load of baloney or toss - they don't have a cod's chance....

why - the name for Iceland the country in their language is Ísland - Iceland as a brand do not use this name.

[DTCwordfan]

for clarity, in Reyjkavik or Seydisfjordur, it's pronounced eeceland, not ice-land.

[EDDIE51]

Iceland the country has a point. They have companies who want to use the name Iceland ( the country) in their trading name but are prevented from doing so by a UK frozen food company.

[DTCwordfan]

If they do, Eddie, that is as a suffix and, de facto, a sub-brand - what's wrong for them to use 'Eeceland,' the local pronunciation?

[EDDIE51]

^ Why should they not use the international name for their country Iceland ?

[EDDIE51]

Details here
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/iceland-the-country-is-actually-suing-iceland-the-shop-a7438216.html

[jomifl]

Iceland the country is trying to use its name as a brand. That brand name is already owned by Iceland the shop. I expect the shop is angling for a cash settlement and they will change their name to 'Ice-land' or similar.

[marval]

I use to work for Bejam, it has been Iceland for so long now. Why have they suddenly decided to do this?

[DTCwordfan]

Fish prices are going up?I doubt it is Skyr, however good the local product is, and it is good....

[jno]

I don't think you can copyright everyday words, at least not in Britain, and Iceland the country has been one for a long time.

[twix123]

I would let the country of Iceland have sole rights to their name if they paid back the debts that they dishonoured subsequent to the Icelandic financial crisis of 2008.