Wegmans, Walgreens Settle Lawsuit Over 'W' Logos
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- Wegmans Food Markets has agreed to settle the trademark infringement lawsuit Walgreens filed against the supermarket chain over its use of a logo similar to the one used by the drug store company.
Rochester-based Wegmans will stop using the "circle W" logo by June 30, 2012.
Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen Co. sued in federal court in Virginia, claiming Wegmans' use of the logo could mislead consumers into thinking the companies are connected.
Walgreens said its "flying W" deserves trademark protection because it's been in use since 1951.
Wegmans said the scripted "W" it adopted in 2008 is actually a copy of logos used by the supermarket in the 1930s.
The agreement was reached in March and announced on Friday.
Wegmans has stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)