A Kiwi 'Slime Princess' has won her trademark battle against Nickelodeon.
Twelve-year-old entrepreneur Katharina Weischede started a home business making slime - a stretchy, gooey kids' toy that's become extremely popular.
But when she went to register a trademark for her company, called Slime Princess, she drew an unhappy response from American media giant Viacom, which owns the kids' channel.
- Kiwi Slime Princess crowd funding for legal fees to fight Nickelodeon
- Making slime is a hot trend - Kiwi kids show us how
- Toy slime could have dangerous chemical levels - watchdog
She's spent over a year embroiled in a legal dispute with Viacom, which said trademarking the name 'Slime Princess' would be in violation of its trademarks of 'Slime' and 'Nickelodeon Slime'.
It said the Slime Princess brand could cause confusion or be contrary to the Fair Trading Act and the Trade Marks Act.
The company is known for dumping litres of its goopy green slime on celebrities during awards shows and promotions.
Katharina was determined to fight back, and set up a page on crowdfunding site Givealittle to raise funds for her legal battle.
"For me, I chose to be a Slime Princess. It is not just about playing slime, making slime but it's putting smiles on people's faces. It is about having a voice, being an inspiration and standing up for small businesses like mine," she wrote.
"I work so hard being a Slime Princess. I do not want anyone, like this monied, well-connected giant to take my passion away because he can fight me more."
According to NZME, Nickelodeon has now decided to withdraw its opposition to Katharina's trademark.
"We review all these on a case-by-case basis and have determined that Slime Princess will not impede upon our trademark of slime in New Zealand," a spokesperson told NZME.
"We admire Katharina's entrepreneurial spirit and wish her the best of luck."
Katharina said she was "overjoyed".
"I still believe there is goodness in everyone, and it's true. There is goodness even in the giant, and now the battle is over," she told NZME.
Newshub.
