MasterChef's George sued by Mr Whippy

Reported by Matthew Henry, ninemsn
Thursday, September 6, 2012
George Calombaris. (AAP)
George Calombaris. (AAP)

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Soft-serve vendor Mr Whippy is suing MasterChef judge George Calombaris for allegedly ripping off the iconic brand name for a dessert at his Kew eatery.

Mr Whippy Pty Ltd is seeking damages from the celebrity chef in the Federal Magistrates Court for a trademark infringement, the Herald Sun reports.

The company alleges Calombaris named one of his ice cream desserts "Mr Whippy" without the company's permission and sold it for $9.50.

Calombaris then changed its name to "Mrs Whippi" after he was sent a legal letter, the company alleges.

The chef's lawyers argued Mr Whippy had "no relevant reputation" in the high-profile restaurant market to defend.

Mr Whippy director Stan Gordon told the newspaper it was "time to take a stand".

"We plan to enforce our rights," he said. "This is Australia and I need to protect my brand."

A spokesperson for Calombaris said the matter was with the chef's solicitors.

Sources: Herald Sun
Author: Matthew Henry. Approving editor: Fiona Willan

20/05/2013 14:27Sydney, Australia. 20 May,2013
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