HP sued by Wex for trademark infringement over ‘Wex’ software

By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) – Software company Wex sued HP for trademark infringement in Maine federal court on Thursday, accusing it of improperly using the name “Wex” to promote software competing with HP.

Wex, which specializes in payment processing and information management applications, said HP’s recently announced “HP Wex” workforce management platform will confuse customers.

The confusion is likely given “the similarities between the software, fleet and data management and employee solutions offered by Wex, on the one hand, and the ‘Wex’ branded software, fleet and data management and employee solutions offered by HP , on the other hand,” the lawsuit said.

Wex sought unspecified monetary damages and an order forcing HP to stop using the “Wex” name.

HP representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the complaint.

Wex spokeswoman Jessica Roy said in a statement that HP’s use of “Wex” “will inevitably sow confusion in the marketplace” and that the company filed the complaint “to avoid harm to our brand.”

Wex offers software for corporate payments, vehicle fleet management, and employee benefit plan administration. The Portland, Maine-based company, formerly specializing in fuel cards for the trucking industry and known as Wright Express, changed its name to Wex in 2012.

HP, based in Palo Alto, California, announced its information technology “workforce experience platform” “HP Wex” in March. Wex said in the lawsuit that HP adopted the name “knowingly or in reckless disregard of Wex’s undisputed trademark rights.”

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Franklin Paul)