Wapple has triumphed against Apple in a trademark legal battle

Wapple Wins lanmark case against Apple

By Francis Rey

Wapple has triumphed against Apple in a trademark battle and walked away with the right to use its marque.

The two companies have been at it for 5 years now, which started when Apple filed a lawsuit against Wapple for allegedly riding on its popularity and exploiting the closeness in name after the release of iPhone.

Wapple defended itself, saying that its name usage started since 2003 and derived from WAP, the wireless application protocol.

The company added that iPhone’s release did not affect its use of the associated name since it began long before the handset came into fruition.

“We are overjoyed with the result and incredibly proud. The case is a victory for truth over tactics. Self-belief is always critical when establishing and growing any technology business and even more so when you are early to market as we were,” said Anne Thomas, COO of Wapple. “The action taken by Apple Inc. to oppose our trade mark has tested our resolve and we are delighted with this outcome.”

 “Delighted with this outcome”

Shopping around in Redditch could save you 11p a litre on Petrol and 9p on Diesel

Cheapest Unleaded Stations

SAVE 11p on Unleaded per litre and 9p on Diesel a litre

The cost of a Litre locally is rising but do you ever look what the price per Litre is. at  Mpk Astwood Bank Service Station Evesham Road, Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcestershire, B96 6EA it was 136.9p.

At Tesco it was 135.9 but at Morrisons Redditch Warwick Highway, Winyates West, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0UB  it was 134.9.

It was the same at Vvs Service Stations (beoley) and  Sainsburys Redditch Alvechurch Highway, Enfield, Redditch,  but you would save at much as 11p per litre by using the cheapest petrol station in Redditch.

I t was the same for Diesel although the saving was a little lower at 9p per litre   M42 Hopwood Park Motorway Service Area M42 J2,  it was 159.9 but at  Total Weatheroaks Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham, it was 150.9 a saving of 9p per litre

You would save nearly £5 on filling your car with Petrol and just over £4 filling with Diesel

.

Name	Distance	Price	Last Update
Sainsburys Redditch Alvechurch Highway, Enfield, Redditch, Worcestershire, B97 6RF	1.26 miles	134.9p	Mar 1st
Morrisons Redditch Warwick Highway, Winyates West, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0UB	1.29 miles	134.9p	Mar 1st
Vvs Service Stations (beoley) Alcester Road, Bransons Cross, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 9DS	4.12 miles	134.9p	Mar 1st
Tesco Redditch Oakenshaw Extra Coldfield Drive, Oakenshaw, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 7RU	1.6 miles	135.9p	Mar 1st
Mpk Astwood Bank Service Station Evesham Road, Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcestershire, B96 6EA	3.08 miles	136.9p	Feb 29th

Highest Price: 145.9p Lowest Price: 134.9p Average Price: 137.6p Potential Saving (11p per Litre):

Cheapest Premium Diesel Stations

Name	Distance	Price	Last Update
Total Weatheroaks Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham, West Midlands, B47 6AP	4.31 miles	150.9p	Feb 27th
Washford 24 Washford Drive, Park Farm South, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0HX	1.76 miles	154.9p	Mar 1st
M42 Hopwood Park Motorway Service Area M42 J2, Alvechurch, West Midlands, B48 7AB	4.37 miles	159.9p	Feb 29th

Highest Price: 159.9p Lowest Price: 150.9p Average Price: 155.2p Potential Saving (per Litre): 9p

Benefit fiddlers netted nearly £100,000

Benefit fiddlers netted tens of thousands

  By Sarah Davies

 EIGHT people have appeared before magistrates accused of benefit fraud totalling nearly £100,000.

Yesterday’s prosecutions brought by the Department for Work and Pensions and local authorities have so far resulted in five convictions relating to fraud totalling more than £36,000.

Tara Roberts was given a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, a four-month curfew between 8pm and 7am and ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work after failing to tell DWP and Worcester City Council she was living with her boyfriend, Benjamin Jones.

Worcester Magistrates Court heard the 27-year-old, of Margaret Road, St John’s, Worcester, was overpaid by more than £20,000 over two and a half years in income support, housing and council tax benefit.

Her solicitor, David Ollivere, said the mother-of-three had claimed benefits entirely legitimately for a number of years and this offence was committed because “money was tight”.

Roberts had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

He added she was of previous good character and had already paid back £1,500, although it could take her 20 years to settle the debt.

 Susan Patrick, aged 42 of Lansdowne Walk, Worcester, received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay costs of £100 after she admitted failing to declare she had received a £29,000 inheritance.

She was overpaid almost £3,000 in income support, council tax and housing benefit, but repaid the amount in full.

Paul Stanley, defending, said his client, a single mother-of-three, had struggled financially for a long period and used the money to pay off debts, on her house and her children.

He added she was of previously good character.

Ian Woodward, of Compton Road, Worcester, admitted failing to declare a legacy of more than £31,000 left to him by his late mother, resulting in an overpayment of benefits amounting to more than £7,000 over nearly three years.

His solicitor Simon Deeley said the 57-year-old did not notify DWP and the city council of his inheritance because he had felt the money was not really his as his mother had intended it to be a deposit on a house, but being unemployed he was unable to obtain a mortgage.

Magistrates sentenced him to 150 hours unpaid work, £100 costs and he agreed to immediately pay £3,000 off his debt from his remaining £6,000 in savings.

Edwin Thomas, of Homestead, Droitwich, did not inform authorities he had returned to work while claiming benefits on the basis he was incapable of working because of arthritis. He was overpaid more than £2,500 in employment support allowance, housing and council tax benefit.

The 51-year-old’s solicitor, Amer Hussain, said his client, who pleaded guilty, was of previous good character.

He accepted he should have told authorities of his change in circumstances and was sorry for his actions. He was told to carry out 50 hours unpaid work and pay costs of £100.

Armando Gonsalves, of Lowesmoor, Worcester, also worked while claiming benefit and was sentenced to 100 hours’ unpaid work, as well as ordered to pay £100 costs.

He pleaded guilty to being overpaid more than £4,000 in Job Seekers’ Allowance and housing and council tax benefit after gaining employment on four occasions.

Amer Hussain, defending, said his client did not understand he was required to inform DWP and Worcester City Council when he found work and accepted it was a failure on his part.

Mr Hussain said the 40-year-old, who was of previously good character, was “sorry and remorseful”.

Redditch Beauty school drop out becomes a plumber

Beauty school drop out becomes a plumber

By News Today

SHE might be more at home with make-up and mirrors but this beauty school drop out is taking on men at their own game in her new job as an apprentice PLUMBER.

Pretty Shannon Kelly, from Redditch, Worcestershire, decided to cancel her beauty course plans after working with her plumber uncle, 38-year-old Ian Moorhouse, for pocket money last summer.

The 17-year-old ‘girly girl’ had planned to study a beauty therapy course alongside her pals but jumped at the chance to switch make-up and hair products for grease and grime when her uncle offered her a permanent job.

And whilst her friends are studying the latest fashion tips or beauty products, hard-working Shannon is getting her hands dirty as she slogs it out on the male-dominated work sites.

“I could have gone on to do a beauty therapy course at college like my friends, but when I was working with my uncle in the summer holidays to earn a bit of money, I started to enjoy it.

“I really enjoy the banter on site and I give as good as I get. The atmosphere is better than sitting in a boring college class all week.

“I am a very girly girl away from site. I’ve always loved getting dressed up and doing my make-up and I go out with my friends every weekend.

“If someone is coming round after work then I have a quick shower and have to do all my make-up quickly.”

In order to get proper qualifications, Shannon studies Plumbing and Heating at Worcester College of Technology every Monday before working with her uncle’s Shire Heating and Plumbing firm from Tuesday to Friday.

And the teenager is certainly showing a keen attitude to the job – as she is forced to get the bus from Redditch to Worcester every morning to meet her uncle, because she hasn’t passed her driving test yet.

The plucky worker admits she kept her new job secret from her friends at first but isn’t ashamed to show off her plumbing skills now she knows she can cut it in the macho world.

“I did keep it a secret from my friends for the first few months, I think I just wanted to see if I could make a living out of it first,” added the pretty 17-year-old, who lives at home with her parents.

“They were shocked when I told them and they laughed a bit but now they are just jealous I’m earning more money than them.

“I’m the only girl on my course but I get on better with the other guys than I do with girls to be honest. They respect me and realise that I’m really keen to do well.

“I really like the look on people’s faces when I turn up, and I am able to make their homes nice and cosy again.

“Eventually, I want to become a fully qualified plumber and start my own business. I think it is a real advantage being a female in this trade.“

Her proud uncle, and now boss, says he could not be more proud of the hard work his niece has put in since she joined the company – after admitting he did have initial worries.

“I was worried at first because I’m over-protective of her,” said Ian, who has worked in plumbing for 25 years.

“But Shannon can take care of herself, to be honest. I am really proud of how everything is working out.

“All the lads on the sites love her to bits and have taken her under their wing. There’s certainly no foul language anymore, we must work on the cleanest sites in building.

And the experienced plumber says his latest apprentice has more drive and enthusiasm for the job than most men he has employed in the past.

“It is not easy work. It can be very hard and heavy labour with long days and nights. Shannon gets the bus every day to meet us so its a ten-hour day for her.

“And sometimes we even work nights so she will work till 5am with the rest of us and she never moans.

“I know lads who have worked for me in the past who didn’t want to get out of bed but she is the opposite.

“I have never heard of a woman plumber in the 25 years I’ve been doing this.”

Advertise your business to EVERY household on Council Tax Bills in Worcestershire

Advertise your business to EVERY household in Worcestershire

In March 2012, every household in Worcestershire will receive a Council Tax Bill , accompanied with an A5, 32 page, full-colour publication (see right of page for leaflets). We have the following pages available for advertisements:

• £1,750 – cost of back page advert
• £1,500 – cost of inside back page advert
• £1,500 – cost of inside front page advert
• £1,250 – cost of page 20 advert

The cost includes design, print and distribution.

The amount of copies produced is 316,000 and they are distributed to households and businesses (via direct mail) in Worcestershire, along with our main public buildings. They are also made available on the websites of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Worcestershire County Council, Wyre Forest District Council, Redditch Borough Council, Bromsgrove District Council, Worcester City Council, Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council.

If you are interested in advertising email commsunit@worcestershire.gov.uk with CTL Advertising in the subject box and send in your contact details along with your first and second page preference.

Closing date 10:00am 6^th January 2012

Please note our Advertising terms and conditions:

The Advertiser will ensure that:-

• any information supplied in connection with the Advertisement is accurate, complete and true
• the advertising copy will not contain material of a political, sexual or religious nature and all advertising copy and images submitted to the Designer is legal, decent, honest and truthful and complies with the British Code of Advertising Practice. It must be created with a sense of responsibility to consumers, especially concerning children and young people
• in respect of any Advertisement submitted for publication which contains the name or image (photographic or otherwise) of a person, the Advertiser has obtained the authority of the person
• the Advertiser is responsible for providing copy, images and any artwork required to the Designer to produce the advertisement
• the Advertiser shall be responsible for checking proofs and corrections within the time specified on the production schedule. Any delays will incur an additional charge
• payment in respect of the Advertisement is due in advance of publication and by 10:00am on the invoice due date. Failure to do so may result in your booking being cancelled.
• The Advertiser will receive one copy of each edition of the publication. Any further copies required will need to be arranged separately between the Advertiser and Printer, with the Advertiser paying the additional costs.

will advertising on Council tax bills be toxic for your business

• The only problem with this is people have very negative thoughts when they open the  Council Tax bill and any company advertising will find residents less likely to use them.
• If my test is anything to go by.
•  Residents were shown a sample bill with advertisements on the back and asked what they thought and every person had an instant dislike of that company
• It is thought the association with a company and a council tax bill is toxic for any business as people have instant negative thoughts  aassociated with the company advertising.