Orlando International Airport is laying down a legal challenge to Melbourne Airport.
OIA is calling on Orlando Melbourne International Airport to cease and desist from using ‘Orlando’ in its name.
It is suing the airport claiming it is ‘confusing and misleading’ to travelers, and is a trademark advertising infringement.
The lawsuit wants a court to order the airport to remove Orlando from its name, not to use it in any advertising materials, and issue a retraction.
"By causing a likelihood of confusion, mistake and deception, MLB is inflicting irreparable harm on the goodwill symbolized by GOAA’s Orlando International Airport.
The airport has long threatened to take action against Melbourne which is about 70 miles from downtown Orlando.
Melbourne shrugged off the legal action, saying it has no merit.
Several airports take the name of a catchment area’s main city even if it is some distance away, and there is already a city airport, citing the example of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
Melbourne airport started rebranding itself as Orlando-Melbourne International Airport in 2010.
