News

• Calvin Klein Wins UK Opposition Against 'CKA' Trade Mark

  
  
  
  The UK Intellectual Property Office has upheld Calvin Klein Trademark Trust’s opposition to Guangzhou Xika Technology’s bid to register the mark 'CKA' for a range of Class 3 goods, including cosmetics, toiletries, and cleaning products. Citing sections 5(2)(b) and 5(3) of the Trade Marks Act 1994, the hearing officer found that 'CKA' bore significant visual and aural similarities to Calvin Klein’s long-established 'CK' marks, creating a likelihood of confusion among consumers. The tribunal noted that Calvin Klein’s branding enjoys enhanced distinctiveness and reputation across the UK and EU, particularly in fashion and personal care products, making it plausible that the contested sign could be perceived as a brand extension. The application was refused in full, underscoring the continuing potency of legacy fashion labels in defending their core brand assets against encroachment in adjacent consumer markets. Following visualisation shows detail information on trademark opposed by Calvin Klein.
  
  

  
  

  12/08/2025

• Deutsche Telekom Challenges 'T'-Shaped Tech Mark in U.S. Amid Brand Protection Push

  
  
  
  On 6 August, Deutsche Telekom filed a trademark opposition in the United States against Shenzhen South Digital Limited, contesting a stylised 'T' logo sought for a broad portfolio of tech products, including laptops, smartwatches, BIOS software, and computing hardware. The German telecom heavyweight—whose magenta 'T' is among the most recognisable corporate marks in Europe—alleges that the applied-for symbol mimics its own brand identity too closely, posing risks of consumer confusion and brand dilution. This IP defence aligns with Deutsche Telekom’s broader strategy to safeguard its global footprint at a time of peak financial performance. In 2023, the company posted record net profit of €17.8 billion on €112 billion in revenue, with North America driving 65% of total revenue and Germany remaining a critical market with over 61 million mobile subscribers. Despite robust earnings, challenges remain: monthly mobile ARPU has declined, and R&D expenditure has softened. The following visualisation shows a comparison of the 'T' letters in both trademarks, highlighting the overlapping design patterns at the centre of Deutsche Telekom’s opposition.
  
  

  
  

  07/08/2025

• EUIPO Cancels 'Crash Birds' Trade Mark After Rovio’s Angry Birds Challenge

  
  
  
  The EUIPO’s has declared invalid the European Union trade mark 'Crash Birds', siding with Finnish developer Rovio Entertainment, creator of the globally renowned Angry Birds franchise. In its decision of 1 August 2025, the Office found that the contested figurative mark — featuring a red bird with visual and conceptual traits mirroring Rovio’s characters — designed to ride on the reputation and commercial success of Angry Birds. The panel highlighted striking visual, aural and conceptual similarities, including the shared "birds" element and gameplay associations evoked by the word "Crash". Evidence demonstrated Angry Birds’ enduring popularity since its 2009 launch, further strengthened by Sega’s $776 million acquisition of Rovio in 2023.
  
  

  
  

  04/08/2025