Carnegie Hall Settles Trademark Lawsuit with Carnegie Diner & Cafe Operator
Carnegie Hall has reached a settlement in a lawsuit accusing the operator of several Carnegie Diner & Cafe restaurants of trademark infringement. The settlement was confirmed by a lawyer for Carnegie Hall in a letter filed in Manhattan federal court on Monday night. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
The lawsuit, brought by Carnegie Hall Corp, alleged that the operator of Carnegie Diner and owner Efstathios Antonakopoulos had been using the venue’s image and brand to promote restaurants in Manhattan, Secaucus, NJ, and Vienna, Va., with plans for nationwide franchising. Carnegie Hall claimed that the restaurants were confusing customers into believing they were affiliated with the historic music venue.
The lawsuit, filed in May, highlighted the use of Carnegie Hall’s image on murals, merchandise, and promotional materials at the restaurants. It featured historic appearances by artists such as Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Maria Callas, and Martin Luther King Jr.
The first Carnegie Diner opened in 2019, with one location situated diagonally across the street from Carnegie Hall. Efstathios Antonakopoulos, also known as Stathis, serves as the chief executive of Carnegie Hospitality, which operates the restaurants.
In a statement, Antonakopoulos announced the amicable resolution of the matter between Carnegie Hall and Carnegie Hospitality. The lawsuit sought unspecified damages and the cancellation of the registration with the US Patent and Trademark Office for Carnegie Diner & Cafe restaurants. As of now, the registration remains active.
Carnegie Hall and its legal representatives have not provided further comments at this time.
