Metallica vs. Metallica, Metallica Wins

The owner of a Canadian metalwork shop called Metallica Manufacturing recently won a decision allowing it to continue using the name despite a legal challenge from the band Metallica. According to Burnaby Now, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office ruled that the Burnaby, British Columbia shop could continue to seek to trademark the name despite opposition from the rock act, who also have the name trademarked.

Owner Bill Lawson said that the name was chosen for the shop in the late '90s by his then 12-year-old niece, but that it didn't come to the band's attention until several years later when he tried to register the domain name online and lawyers for the group began asking that he change the shop's name. He first applied for the trademark in 2008, beginning a legal battle with the group's attorneys that continued until the recent decision.