Lithuanian charity beauty pageant sued

  • 2010-08-25
  • TBT Staff

In a beauty pageant twist, contestents had to be married to be eligible for the event.

VILNIUS -- The organizers of a Lithuanian beauty pageant titled Mrs. Universe and aimed at raising money to fight human trafficking have been sued for violation of the trademark rights of the Miss Universe brand.

US billionaire Donald Trump’s company filed an illegal trademark use motion against Lithuanian company Pramogu Akademija for use of the name, which the company deemed too similar to Miss Universe.

"We will demand compensation for losses. I believe the court will evaluate the damage done to this trademark," Erikas Saukalas, a lawyer representing the Miss Universe brand, told reporters.

The Lithuanian event had been intended to raise money to fight human trafficking. The full name of the event was "Mrs. Universe 2010: women of the world - against violence and human trafficking". It included a charity day and a disscussion of human trafficking hosted by the Lithuanian foreign ministry.

The Lithuanian government was also a partial sponser of the event. According to some media reports the Lithuanian Government supported the event with some 63 thousand Litas.