Deliveroo launches legal action over UK cannabis dealer’s name

Deliveroo has launched legal action against a UK cannabis dealer for ‘mimicking’ their branding.

The founder of the UK’s ‘biggest’ online weed dispensary - hilariously named ‘Dispenseroo’ - has claimed to have figured out a way to deliver THC buds, pre-rolls, hash and edibles to customers who freely order on the clear web.

The site is clearly laid out like your typical online shop - only, it’s aimed at those who want to unwind by firing one up.

Forget burner phones and clandestine meetings. Here, shoppers can seemingly add weed products and accessories to their cart ‘safely’ and are greeted with the supposed prospect of free shipping and customer service.

Unsplash

The brand leader - who goes by the pseudonym ‘S’ for obvious reasons - claimed to be turning over £25,000 worth of sales every day, and is campaigning for the legalization of weed in the UK with their site.

But earlier this week, the weed brand has been informed it may need to give up its domain name to the food delivery brand, as the takeaway company claim it is infringing on its trademark.

Deliveroo said in a statement that the company has filed a complaint to request the transfer of the ‘Dispenseroo’ domain names to Deliveroo, and has also requested the company stop using its brand name to protect its trademarks and brand.

Dispenseroo website

The statement went on: "Given the obvious and substantive mimicking of our brand, we have lodged a complaint with Dispenseroo's website registrar and the World Intellectual Property Organisation.”

Prior to the legal action, the Dispenseroo founder told LADbible that Deliveroo ‘can’t do s***’ in regards to the similarities between the two brands’ names.

“I mean, they can’t do s*** because they don’t own the copyrights or trademarks in relation to the root elements,” he claimed, referring to the origin of their brand name, which derives from the word ‘kangaroo'.

“So, they lost. They don’t copyright that colour code, they don’t copyright that open-source font, either, so they really and truly took an ‘L’,” the Dispenseroo founder claimed.

Dispenseroo website

But despite the implications that they are currently facing - as well as the very real threat of up to 14 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine for the founder of the company for supplying cannabis - the company believes that they are making a stand with their brand.

"The whole point of Dispenseroo is to be a campaign in essence," S told us. "We want to create a wide initiative where we support people with cannabis-based treatments for their needs.

“However, we stand by our mission and our beliefs. Even in history, social movements of any nature have come under scrutiny, and cannabis legalisation across the medical and recreational market is something we believe in.

“I guess, to make a standpoint you have to do something.”

If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week.