Thredbo Accommodation - Accommodation in Thredbo

Thredbo might be super for skiers, but should it be trademarked?

editor — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 06:25:19 +0000

The word Thredbo may well conjure up images of schussing down the snowfields and hot chocolates in the ski lodge.

But does that mean the place name can be trademarked by a private company?

The issue has come to light in the lengthy battle between snowfields operator Kosciuszko Thredbo – the trademark applicant – and minnow accommodation provider Thredbonet.

In July, Kosciuszko Thredbo, owned by the $1.5 billion entertainment giant Amalgamated Holdings, lost its two-year legal battle against Thredbonet, with the Federal Court declaring the self-described “Disneyland” of the Snowy Mountains was not entitled to the exclusive use of the word.

Kosciuszko Thredbo, which operates a resort, ski school, leisure centre, and a slew of other services, failed to prove Thredbonet’s use of the geographic term in its online marketing would mislead consumers.

But Kosciuszko Thredbo is so convinced the word “Thredbo” has now taken on a secondary meaning to signify a “complete branded entity”, that it has filed a trademark application over the word.

This has infuriated Thredbonet, which launched a fresh appeal in the Federal Court last week to halt the registrar from finalising the request, saying it was contrary to law.

Thredbonet’s managing director Glenn Smith said: “We’re trying to make it a fair trading community. No one should have the right to control the use of a geographical word that describes where someone’s house is or business is.”

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Small Thredbo company wins legal fight against ski resort owners

editor — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 06:18:36 +0000

It was the biggest snowball fight of them all, yet it was waged without so much as a snowflake in sight. For years a legal battle has raged over ownership of the word “Thredbo”, the popular NSW ski destination currently enjoying record dumps.
The case was brought by Kosciuszko Thredbo, which holds the lease for the areas of Thredbo Village and Thredbo Resort, and Thredbo Resort Centre, which manages reservations for accommodation at Thredbo. They took Thredbonet, a small company that manages accommodation, to court over its use of the word.
The companies, represented by a large, multinational law firm, alleged that “Thredbo” had taken on a secondary meaning, aside from the name of a location. The word Thredbo, they argued, was now synonymous with their businesses. Thredbo, it was said, was “more than a place”, and was instead a “complete branded entity”.
The companies likened themselves to Disneyland, saying the lease arrangements in place put them in a “unique position of control over the resort”.
They sought to restrain Thredbonet from using the word in various domain names, company and business names, and on its website.
Thredbonet, by using the name, was allegedly engaging in “misleading or deceptive conduct by using the name to promote their business”.
The companies argued that was a breach of consumer law, and accused Thredbonet of trying to pass its business off for their own.
The companies lost their first court case in the Federal Court in June last year, but appealed. The full court of the Federal Court handed down its decision on the appeal on Monday, finding against Kosciuszko Thredbo and the Thredbo Resort Centre.
The court found the word “Thredbo” to be a geographical name, and said the appellants were not entitled to a monopoly over its use. It cleared Thredbonet of misleading and deceptive conduct.
The law firm representing Thredbonet, Hazan Hollander, welcomed the judgment, describing the case as a David and Goliath-type battle. Senior lawyer Yves Hazan said the judgment represented an “emphatic win”.
“The case is a good example of a large corporation failing to bully a smaller company with massive litigation.”
Law firm King & Wood Mallesons, which represented Kosciuszko Thredbo and the Thredbo Resort Centre, declined to comment.

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Après-ski

editor — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 09:02:35 +0000

Thredbo has the best Apres Ski atmosphere in the Australian snowfields with a variety of on mountain and off mountain bars and restaurants

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The Ultimate Australian Alpine Destination

editor — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 10:03:15 +0000

Come to Thredbo to get the best Australian Alpine experience, whether it’s summer and winter Thredbo has it all

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Thredbo Accommodation holidays to suit everyone

editor — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 10:02:29 +0000

Here in Thredbo we have all levels of accommodation but checkout our apartments and chalets right across the mountain from Woodridge, Village Green and Crackenback ridge

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Australia’s Premier Ski Resort Experience

editor — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 09:28:55 +0000

Thredbo is Australia’s Premier Ski Resort located in the Kosciuszko Narional Park, ski from 1300 metres to just over 2000 metres, ski the 6 kilometre trail, ski the Crackenback Supertrail back to Thredbo Village to our wonderful alpine village full of chalets restaurants and bars.

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