-
Mercedes-Benz Off-Road Logo Fails Trade Mark Test in EUIPO
On 19 March 2025, the General Court of the European Union ruled in Case T-400/24, rejecting Mercedes-Benz Group AG’s application to register a figurative trade mark representing an ascending off-road vehicle. The decision, based on Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, confirmed that the mark lacked distinctive character and could not be registered. Background to…
-
Patagonia Takes Legal Action Against Marden’s Over Counterfeit Goods
Patagonia Inc. filed a lawsuit on March 18, 2025, against Marden’s, a discount retail chain in Maine, alleging trademark counterfeiting, trademark infringement, unfair competition, dilution, and copyright infringement. The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, claims that Marden’s has been selling counterfeit Patagonia-branded jackets featuring unauthorised reproductions of…
-
Richemont Fails to Prove Parasitism as Court Sides with Louis Vuitton
On March 5, 2025, the French Court of Cassation ruled in favour of Louis Vuitton, dismissing an appeal brought by Richemont, the owner of Van Cleef & Arpels. The dispute centered on allegations that Vuitton’s Color Blossom jewellery collection unfairly imitated Van Cleef & Arpels’ renowned Alhambra design. The court upheld previous rulings that Vuitton’s…
-
Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH vs. EUIPO: Glashütte ORIGINAL’s Trademark Rejection Explained
On December 11, 2024, the First Chamber of the General Court issued a significant ruling in a trademark dispute involving Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH in Glashütte, Germany, and the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The core of the case revolves around the company’s application to register a figurative trademark for Glashütte ORIGINAL. However, the application faced…
-
Kokito I Punt vs. The French Football Federation: General Court Rules on Trademark Dispute
On January 15, 2025, the Third Chamber of the General Court delivered a pivotal ruling in the trademark dispute between Kokito I Punt, SL and the Fédération Française de Football (FFF). The case revolves around a trademark application featuring a stylized rooster submitted by Kokito I Punt, SL. The FFF raised objections, claiming the rooster…
-
Adidas vs Fashion Nova: The Fight Over Stripes Returns to Court
Adidas has taken legal action against Fashion Nova for allegedly violating a 2022 settlement agreement over the sportswear giant’s famous Three Stripe trademark. The lawsuit, filed on March 4, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, accuses Fashion Nova of breach of contract, trademark infringement, counterfeiting, dilution, and unfair competition.…
-
Hermès’ “H” in Question: The Legal Standard for Genuine Use
Hermès International, known for its luxury goods, sought to protect its figurative trademark through an International Registration designating the EU. This trademark covers a range of items in Class 25, including clothing, footwear, and accessories. The application was made on September 8, 2016, but the situation turned into a legal tug-of-war when Markus Bennemann filed…
-
Beverly Hills Polo Club vs. Amazon: Court Orders Nearly $39M in Damages
The High Court of Delhi has ruled in Lifestyle Equities CV & Anr. vs Amazon Technologies, Inc., exposing how e-commerce giants leverage marketplace dominance at the expense of brand owners. Amazon was found to have used a logo infringing upon the Beverly Hills Polo Club (BHPC) trademark, leading to a permanent injunction and substantial damages.…
-
Louis Vuitton v. Warner Bros.: Trademark Protection vs. Creative Expression
On December 22, 2011, Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A. filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. following the release of The Hangover: Part II. The dispute centered around the use of a travel bag in the film, which Louis Vuitton argued was a counterfeit version of its signature Toile Monogram design. The bag, produced by…