Conflict looms over possible “AM” name for TEN project

Following speculation that TEN may be considering a new breakfast programme from 6-9am, today The Australian reports that the tentative name “AM” may cause some legal stoushes because it is used by ABC Radio.

But ABC has not registered the name as a trademark with IP Australia.

Trademarked programme names include Today Tonight on the Seven Network, Nine’s 60 Minutes and TEN’s MasterChef.

“The ABC would have to persuade a judge that members of the public seeing an AM television program would make some connection to the AM radio program,” said Peter Hallett, director of Watermark IP Lawyers.

In 1988, Seven ran a business breakfast program called TV AM.

At this stage neither the programme, nor any name, is confirmed.

An ABC spokeswoman said the network would not comment until a program launched.