Dundee Eyewear Shop Rebrands After Sex Pistols Legal Threat

A Dundee eyewear shop formerly known as Spex Pistols has rebranded as Land O’Spex following a legal challenge from representatives of the punk band the Sex Pistols. The dispute arose after the shop owner, Richard Cook, missed the trademark renewal deadline in 2024, leading to a cease and desist letter over the shop's logo, which was deemed too similar to the band's iconic logo. While discussions allowed the shop to continue using the name with a new logo, Cook chose to rebrand to avoid the restrictive conditions imposed. Cook emphasized that his small local business had never been confused with the globally recognized Sex Pistols and noted the challenges of contesting the legal pressure given the band's international stature. Glitterbest, representing the band, stated their objection centered on the logo's stylization and that they tried to find a resolution minimizing impact on the shop. Ultimately, the shop owner found it simpler and more cost-effective to change the name, marking the end of the Spex Pistols era after 14 years of trading under that brand.