Kraftwerk sues Kraftwerk fuel cell makers

The German band Kraftwerk has sued the company eZelleron, makers of the fuel cell of the same name. According to Kraftwerk, the developers of the Kraftwerk fuel cell, which resulted from a successful crowdfunding campaign, are violating the trademark of the band.

Kraftwerk keyboardist and frontman Ralf Hütter holds the trademark of the German band in many areas. One describes the Kraftwerk brand name in the home entertainment field. According to Hütter, the fuel cell developed by eZelleron, also called Kraftwerk, infringes the trade name, because consumers could see the charger for music equipment as an ‘official’ product of the German band.

The case against eZelleron was started by Kraftwerk in the United States, although eZelleron is based in Dresden, Germany, The Hollywood Reporter reports. However, eZelleron is registered in Delaware. Perhaps Hütter started the case in the US to have a better chance of winning the case.

The Kraftwerk loader was successfully launched on Kickstarter by eZelleron. In a short time, more than $1.5 million was raised for the fuel cell, which must be filled with gas. The Kraftwerk fuel cell should be on the market by the end of this year.