Florida’s Melbourne Airport Sued for Using Orlando in Its Name

Officials at the Orlando International Airport have filed a lawsuit against the Orlando Melbourne International Airport, saying that travelers are being misled by its “confusing and misleading” name.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, claims trademark infringement and false advertising, according to a report in USA Today.

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The Orlando International Airport is asking the court to permanently bar Melbourne's aviation board from using Orlando in its name, advertising or promotional materials. The lawsuit also asks the airport to “display a retraction statement on its website for at least one year; and pay damages and attorney's fees.”

"By causing a likelihood of confusion, mistake and deception, MLB is inflicting irreparable harm on the goodwill symbolized by GOAA’s Orlando International Airport Trademark and the reputation for quality that it embodies," says the lawsuit.

Officials at Melbourne’s airport disagree. They point to other airports that do the same thing, such as the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in Manchester, New Hampshire, which also serves the Boston area.

When asked to comment on the lawsuit, Lori Booker, Melbourne airport spokeswoman, told USA Today: “It is our policy to respectfully decline to comment on any pending legal matters.”

The lawsuit follows failed negotiations, joint public meetings and mediation that have been ongoing since 2015.