Westlife brand not exclusive to band

Irish boy-band Westlife's bid to hold on to its band name as a trademark went up in a puff of smoke today when an EU court ruled that the name was too similar to Imperial Tobacco's West cigarette trademark.

While the four-member group, which has had a string of chart-topping hits in Britain, can still use the name Westlife on merchandise, it cannot stop other people from using it. The boy band, signed to Sony BMG, can appeal the decision to the EU's top court, the European Court of Justice.