Online regional TV station WaggaWagga.TV embroiled in trademark stoush with HBO

October 17, 2015 7:31

A six month old regional online video operation based in Wagga Wagga has found itself in the midst of a copyright battle with US TV giant HBO.

WaggaWagga.TV, an online live streaming service catering primarily to the people of the southern NSW town, was threatened with a trademark challenge with HBO’s lawyers claiming its tagline “It’s not TV. It’s dot TV” was too similar to HBO’s “It’s not TV. It’s HBO.”

“We run an online TV station with local based content where the target audience is Wagga Wagga which has about 66,000 people in it,” said Adam Drummond who heads the two person WaggaWagga.TV operation.

“I was bit horrified when I got the letter in the post and it was from the Sydney lawyer representing HBO. At first I thought it was a gag.”

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Nic Christensen

Nic Christensen worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2016, in roles including deputy editor and media & technology editor. He is former media writer for The Australian and has also worked as a reporter for The Daily Telegraph and senior producer for Radio 2GB.

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2 COMMENTS

Wagga boy 19 Oct 15

Show them what 5 O’clock wave really means!

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Felicity Monroe 19 Oct 15

Wasn’t really a “stoush” was it? HBO withdrew the challenge after consulting with their lawyers, probably after realizing the ridiculousness of it all! HBO never used that slogan in Australia and has not even used it themselves since 2009.

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