Amazon has apologised after sending a legal notice to a fishmonger demanding his chain of stores stop advertising “prime day” boat fish.
Robin Moxon, who owns four shops and a fish smokery in London, received an email from lawyers acting on behalf of the online retail giant asking for references to “prime day” boat fish to be “pulled” from Moxon’s website to avoid shoppers mistaking it for an Amazon offer.
Following the request to remove the wording, the high street seller said he phoned solicitors at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and explained that the term had been used by fish sellers for “hundreds of years” – a response that has since elicited an apology from both Amazon and the legal practice.
US-based firm Amazon has registered “prime day”, which is its slogan for an annual two-day event of deals and offers for its Prime members, as a trademark
But Mr Moxon said “prime day” catch was a “nice, neat little phrase” fishmongers used to advertise it had in stock top quality fish – such as turbot, brill and Dover sole – bought from trawlers that fish sustainably for no longer than a day at a time.
Despite the online retailer backing down, Wandsworth resident Mr Moxon called Amazon’s attempt to stifle the use of “prime day” branding “heavy handed” and said the phrase had been popular among fishmongers before billionaire boss Jeff Bezos “was a glint in his mother’s eye”.
“I basically said to them, ‘Are you taking the piss?’,” he told PA news agency, recalling his conversation with Amazon’s representatives.
“This phrase has been used by many people probably for hundreds of years, and I’ve been using it regularly for 30 years.
“This phrase was being well used probably before Amazon existed in this country and before Jeff Bezos was a glint in his mother’s eye.
“I have used it and always will use it, and I don’t see how it can affect their business. It was heavy handed and offensive.”
According to an email seen by PA, Amazon’s lawyers wrote to Moxon’s on June 21 – the start of its Prime Day sales – expressing “concern” that consumers were “very likely to think that a ‘Prime Day’ sale event/advertisement coinciding with Amazon’s Prime Day is offered in association with Amazon when it is not”.
The solicitors said: “Amazon appreciates your enthusiasm for its Prime Day; however, they want to make sure the Prime Day trade marks aren’t used in this way or by other brands.
“If we can get the references to Prime Day on your website, and anywhere else on your social media accounts where it may exist, pulled and your assurances on the above, we can consider this matter closed.”
After a telephone conversation with Mr Moxon, the firm followed up with a second email later that day apologising “for any inconvenience” after “clarifying the root of the term ‘prime day boat’ in the context of the fishing industry”.
A spokesman for Amazon said: “This email was sent in error and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
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