A few hours after news broke out that Tonino Lamborghini in Italy denied giving Globe the authority to use their brand for the Globe Tattoo HSPA+ stick, Globe released their official statement:
Globe Telecom obtained authorization to use the name and logo Tonino Lamborghini through an agreement with Primo Mobile, the master franchisor of mobile phone related products for the Italian brand Tonino Lamborghini. Primo Mobile is a Singapore-based company that has a master license agreement with Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. and is duly authorized to sub-license the use of the Lamborghini logo. The design of the Globe Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini 4G USB sticks was reviewed and approved by Primo Mobile.
Globe Telecom assures the public of its strong adherence and commitment to the highest ethical standards in business and good corporate governance. The company will not engage in any activity that will mislead the public in the course of doing business and serving its customers.
Hmmm.. I guess we’ll then have to wait an official statement from Primo Mobile and/or Tonino Lamborghini.
But what does a luxury watch brand (Tonino Lamborghini) has to do with speed? Is it because it’s Lamborghini and most people will automatically think that it meant sports cars? Isn’t that trying to be misleading?
UPDATE: It seems that Globe has been mislead by Primo Mobile. According to Tonino Lamborghini on their Facebook Page,
Tonino Lamborghini Group wishes to clarify that Primo Mobile had been granted only a trademark license – neither a master license nor a master franchise – but such trademark license agreement was duly terminated by the licensor, Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l., some months ago. In any case, such trademark license agreement did not authorize Primo Mobile to sub-license the use of the Tonino Lamborghini trademark and logo.
Yikes. Globe is still waiting for a statement from Primo Mobile.