Starz Blocks Disney From Launching ‘Star Plus’ Service in Brazil

Starz has succeeded in blocking Disney from launching a streaming service in Brazil beneath the title “Star Plus.”

A decide in Sao Paolo granted a brief restraining order on Friday, holding that Disney can not use the model title when the service debuts on Aug. 31.

Disney announced in May that it could launch the brand new service in most Latin American international locations, with choices together with ESPN content material together with films and TV reveals from Disney’s numerous entities.

Starz has filed complaints in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, arguing that the “Star Plus” title infringes on its emblems and can trigger buyer confusion. The ruling in Brazil is the primary to enjoin Disney from utilizing the title.

“The plaintiff proved to have precedence of use and registration in Brazil over the phrase mark ‘STARZPLAY,’ together with for figuring out leisure companies, which grants it the precise to guard its popularity and materials integrity,” wrote Decide Jorge Tosta.

Starz, a Lionsgate firm, operates the Starzplay streaming service in worldwide territories. It launched in Brazil in 2019, and trademarked the time period “STARZPLAY.”

“Clearly, a shopper, when referring to the streaming companies provided by the events, won’t accomplish that by saying that he watched a film by means of ‘STARZPLAY’ or ‘STARPLUS,’ however merely by means of ‘STAR,’” Tosta wrote.

The decide additionally famous Disney’s “huge advertising and marketing energy,” and held that the brand new service posed a real risk to dilute Starz’s model.

Tosta’s ruling overturned a decrease court docket, which had denied the injunction. The order is in place pending the result of the case.

An Argentinian court docket denied Starz’s criticism, and Mexico has but to rule on the difficulty.