Bucks Fizz trio to appeal ruling in band name case

Three members of Bucks Fizz said they are “extremely disappointed” at a court ruling which stops them using the band name.

One member of the original line-up Bobby G, whose wife Heidi Manton owns the trademark for the name, took legal action to stop Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston performing as “The Original Bucks Fizz”.

They in turn challenged his use of the name Bucks Fizz, claiming it was misleading to fans.

A ruling was made last week that Bobby G, real name Robert Gubby, can carry on using the name, and that the other three should stop calling themselves “The Original Bucks Fizz”.

Dean Dunham, the solicitor representing Baker, Nolan and Aston, said: “Clearly the band is extremely disappointed in this decision and we will be immediately appealing it through the High Courts to get this decision overturned.

“We believe the decision is not correct in law as we have clearly shown that the public are indeed misled by the use of the Bucks Fizz trademark by its owner Heidi Manton and her husband Robert Gubby and, with this being the case, the trademark should have been revoked.”

During a hearing at the Intellectual Property Office on July 15, Mr Dunham argued that Bucks Fizz fans had been left “disappointed” to discover they had booked tickets for a band featuring only one member of the original line-up.

Baker’s agent David Hahn had received emails and phone calls from disappointed fans who had booked tickets for Mr Gubby’s band expecting to see the original members, the hearing was told.

Ian Stocker, who runs a fan website, heard similar complaints.

But in his ruling, principal hearing officer Allan James said that the confusion was caused by the use of the name “The Original Bucks Fizz”.

He also ordered that any costs incurred by Heidi Manton during the action should be paid.

Baker, Nolan and Aston now plan to appeal. They have already delayed the release of an album due to the dispute.