Brightline vs. Virgin

[Backroom_boy]

All gone very quiet; has it been settled out of court?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

All gone very quiet; has it been settled out of court?

Not seen any news since March 2021. This was something to do with a brand name dispute between Virgin Enterprises and Brightline Holdings (a private passenger train operator in Florida) wasn't it?

Think it was Virgin suing Brightline (for the small sum of USD250mln) for breach of contract and reputational damage, rather than the other way round.

 

[Backroom_boy]

Not seen any news since March 2021. This was something to do with a brand name dispute between Virgin Enterprises and Brightline Holdings (a private passenger train operator in Florida) wasn't it?

Think it was Virgin suing Brightline (for the small sum of USD250mln) rather than the other way round.

Ah yes. I'd never realised the first Subject named is the instigator of the case; rather obvious really....

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@HarryL mentioned the topic in another thread recently...

Virgin trains USA has long since been killed off by Brightline. It turned out they didn't actually give a penny of the promised support they were meant to give in exchange for the branding license.

Brightline is a very good example of what Virgin usually does, they'll license out their name and brand, give as minimal support/care as they can, but reap all the publicity from it at the expense of who actually runs it.

 

[HarryL]

I could be wrong about the money part to be fair, but they certainly fell into disagreement at some point during covid and Brightline only recently started running again, so they can't have been getting much help during it.

I wouldn't blame Brightline if they had been drawn in with the idea that Virgin ran a train company in the UK, only to find out they had lost it after the deal was signed. To be honest, the whole Virgin Trains USA seemed like an attempt for Branson to still lay claim to owning a train company at a time when the west coast franchise was looking a lot less his.

 

[Backroom_boy]

I could be wrong about the money part to be fair, but they certainly fell into disagreement at some point during covid and Brightline only recently started running again, so they can't have been getting much help during it.

I wouldn't blame Brightline if they had been drawn in with the idea that Virgin ran a train company in the UK, only to find out they had lost it after the deal was signed. To be honest, the whole Virgin Trains USA seemed like an attempt for Branson to still lay claim to owning a train company at a time when the west coast franchise was looking a lot less his.

No I'm pretty sure it was the usual branding exercise from Virgin. And I bet they never committed to investing any actual cash, just via intangibles.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

And I bet they never committed to investing any actual cash, just via intangibles.

Licensing the Virgin brand name to Brightline over 20 years, for a fee, wasn't it?

The case in the English law courts is Virgin Enterprises Ltd. v. Brightline Holdings LLC, it would appear.

 

[tomuk]

Looks like the usual Branson bashing on here. Brightline licensed the Virgin name till 2023 but cancelled the deal without making appropriate payments after covid struck and Brightline shut down.

 

[Backroom_boy]

Licensing the Virgin brand name to Brightline over 20 years, for a fee, wasn't it?

The case in the English law courts is Virgin Enterprises Ltd. v. Brightline Holdings LLC, it would appear.

Where is that listed? Is there a date for a hearing?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Where is that listed?

Mentioned here in this March 2021 webstory...

Virgin Sues US Train Operator For $250M For Dropping Name - Law360

Virgin Enterprises is suing a U.S. train operator in London for more than $250 million in damages, accusing Brightline of using the COVID-19 pandemic to get out of trademark licensing deal early.

www.law360.com

Virgin is represented by Daniel Toledano QC and Nicholas Sloboda of One Essex Court, instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.

Counsel information for Brightline Holdings was not immediately available.

The case is Virgin Enterprises Ltd. v. Brightline Holdings LLC, case number CL-2021-000065, in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales.

Is there a date for a hearing?

Sorry, no idea.

 

[Backroom_boy]

Mentioned here in this March 2021 webstory...

Virgin Sues US Train Operator For $250M For Dropping Name - Law360

Virgin Enterprises is suing a U.S. train operator in London for more than $250 million in damages, accusing Brightline of using the COVID-19 pandemic to get out of trademark licensing deal early.

www.law360.com

Sorry, no idea.

The outline of Brightlines case doesn't make me change my view of never betting against Virgin in a court action....

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Anyway of determining from the case number whether the case is still in line to be heard at the Law Courts?