Carnegie Corridor is suing the operator of a number of eating places referred to as the Carnegie Diner & Cafe, accusing it of infringing emblems belonging to one of many world’s most prestigious music venues.
The nonprofit Carnegie Corridor Corp, which manages the 134-year-old venue, mentioned Efstathios Antonakopoulos has “taken every opportunity” to commerce off its picture and model to advertise his Carnegie Diners in Manhattan; Secaucus, New Jersey; and Vienna, Virginia, with a said purpose to franchise nationwide by 2029.
Carnegie Corridor objected to the eating places that includes wall-size murals of its constructing and stage, promoting T-shirts and different merchandise referencing the venue and referring to historic occasions similar to appearances by singer Bob Dylan, soprano Maria Callas and civil rights chief Martin Luther King.
The criticism filed on Tuesday in Manhattan federal courtroom mentioned that is complicated prospects into believing Carnegie Corridor and Carnegie Diners had been related, and that years of attempting to resolve the matter amicably have been unsuccessful.
It additionally quoted Antonakopoulos, who is named Stathis, describing Carnegie Diner as paying “homage” to Carnegie Corridor and individuals who appeared on the midtown Manhattan venue. One of many eating places is situated diagonally throughout the road.
“This is no ‘homage’; it is theft,” the criticism mentioned.
Antonakopoulos and his firm, Carnegie Hospitality, didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. He grew to become chief government in 2019, in keeping with the corporate’s web site.
Carnegie Corridor mentioned in a press release: “We filed the suit to protect both Carnegie Hall’s intellectual property rights and innocent consumers who are likely to mistakenly believe that the restaurants are related to Carnegie Hall.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, a halt to additional alleged infringements, and the cancellation of Carnegie Hospitality’s registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Workplace for Carnegie Diner & Cafe eating places.
The case is Carnegie Corridor Corp v Carnegie Hospitality LLC et al, U.S. District Court docket, Southern District of New York, No. 25-04224.
