Starzplay sued Disney for using the Star and Star + brands in Latin America

Streaming platform Starzplay has launched legal action against Walt Disney in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina arguing that its yet-to-be-launched Star+ service and cable TV channels Star (formerly Fox) are committing trademark infringement.

The information was disclosed by specialist website The Wrap of the United States, which reported that lawsuits were filed on June 7.

Starzplay is present in almost all of Latin America and belongs to the American chain Starz, owned by the Lionsgate film and television studio.

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“Disney’s decision to launch an independent streaming entertainment service under the name Star+ and to change the name of its channels to Star in Latin America, despite the prior existence of the Starzplay entertainment broadcasting service, which has a similar name, and from trademark registrations for that service, is likely to cause confusion for customers and thus infringe Emerging rights to the Starz trademarks,” Starz said in the lawsuit.

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The rebranding of Fox to Star of Latin America will be on TV channels in February 2021, while Star+ is scheduled to launch in Latin America on August 31.