A small New Jersey convenience opts to forgo its name after Wawa earlier this year filed a lawsuit, alleging that the similar sounding Dawa would diminish the value of Wawa’s trademark.
Convenience store Dawa Food Mart has agreed to change its name to settle a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by Wawa.
Wawa, the Pennsylvania-based chain that operates some 700 stores in six states, and Dawa in Paterson, N.J. settled the suit, signing a consent order this past May, according to the Paterson Times.
Wawa had accused the Paterson-based Dawa of ripping off its name. “Dawa engender strikingly similar appearances, sounds, meanings and overall commercial impressions,” Wawa said in court documents, adding that Dawa would cause damage to the Wawa brand.
WELCOME
Korean and is interpreted to mean “welcome.”
Wawa, in a suit filed in federal court in Camden on Jan. 27, 2017, said the store owner ignored repeated requests to change the name, which Wawa argues is nearly identical to its. The company, in the suit, also alleged that the similar sounding Dawa would diminish the value of Wawa’s trademark.
Dawa, which is located on the corner of River and Lafayette streets, has 90 days to change its name or pay $12,000 in damages, according to the report.
In Florida, Wawa also sued in 2014 to order a restaurant called “Wawa Curry Taste of India” to change its name.