Founder of Chinawhite brand says the club is indeed opening in the UAE, refuting comments made by a representative of the London nightclub with the same name.
An official statement was issued by one of Chinawhite's founders Rory Keegan in response to a comment issued by the MD of Chinawhite in Fitzrovia, London.
Keegan's statement says: "I am writing to confirm our current arrangements with Kalys Management Consultancy. I can hereby confirm that we have entered into a licensing agreement with Kalys; and warrant that they have the unrestricted rightto use the trademarks and name “Chinawhite” to be operated for five years. This term is extendable by mutual agreement."
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It went on to say that Kalys' sub-license is valid for the entire UAE as currently constituted.
Furthermore, international US law firm Curtis, Mallet-Prevost issued an official statement, which says: "The Dubai Chinawhite Project is 100% a valid and legal use of the Chinawhite name, trademark and intellectual property. This project has been developed and carried out with the full involvement and consent of the original founders of Chinawhite who to this day remain the owners of the intellectual property and the trade mark in the name Chinawhite.
"The comments by Mr. Spallone are misleading as they assume the point that the current owners of Chinawhite in London are actually the owners of the relevant intellectual property.
"What Mr. Spallone does not say is that the current owners of Chinawhite are not the original founders who remain owners of the relevant intellectual property, including the trademark. The current owners are just investors and businessmen who who ultimately license the relevant intellectual property from the original founders.
"Mr. Spallone's comments about the owners taking "steps against the concerned individuals" is also overstaing the case somewhat. To date those steps constitute a letter which the legal advisers in Dubai have discredited as showing no discernible cause of action and being without any merit in fact or law."
A partner at the firm, Jeremy Miocevic, added: "The legal letter received from the operators of the club in London, is an empty threat. It shows no discernible legal cause of action whatsoever and is utterly without merit in fact or law.
"We have responded strongly in kind and we have warned them that Dubai law does not permit this type of deliberate attempt to defame the name and reputation of people or entities which are conducting business legally and validly in Dubai, with all relevant permissions of the owners or the relevant intellectual property."
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