News

• Trademark Romance Turns Bitter: EUIPO Sides with Habanos in ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Dispute

  
  
  
  In a win for Cuban cigar giant Corporación Habanos, S.A., the EUIPO has upheld its opposition against German vegan beauty brand Giulia & Romeo, barring its trademark application for toiletries and cosmetics across Class 3. At the heart of the ruling lies a compelling conceptual overlap: the contested 'Giulia & Romeo' brand was deemed too close for comfort to Habanos’ figurative 'Romeo y Julieta' mark—iconic for its Shakespearean balcony scene and deeply associated with premium cigars and lifestyle goods. The EUIPO found the goods to be either identical or highly similar, and while visual differences exist, the conceptual and aural similarities—especially for Italian-speaking consumers—were strong enough to create a likelihood of confusion. Following tag cloud shows trademarks filed worldwide containing the keyword ‘Romeo’ or ‘Juliet’ in their title, along with associated trademark classes and filing offices.
  
  

  
  

  14/07/2025

• UKIPO Rejects ETAM’s Opposition Over '123' Trademark Amid Brand Identity Clash

  
  
  
  In a decision from the UK Intellectual Property Office, fashion retailer ETAM’s attempt to block US-based RivingtonRoirebis LLC from registering the trademark '123' for clothing in Class 25 has failed. ETAM, relying on its earlier marks 'Maison 123' with stylised elements, argued a likelihood of confusion based on visual, aural, and conceptual similarities. However, the tribunal found the overlap limited to the numeral '123', noting that the addition of 'maison' — though potentially understood by a niche UK audience familiar with fashion or French — did not significantly increase the risk of confusion. The decision emphasised that the average UK consumer would perceive the marks as distinct and was unlikely to misassociate the brands, either directly or indirectly. Following chart shows the number of trademarks related to clothing in the UK between 2020 and 2025 filed by UK-based companies.
  
  

  
  

  11/07/2025

• Aldi Prevails in Domain Dispute Over ‘Aldi-Near-Me.com’

  
  
  
  In a ruling issued by WIPO on 26 June 2025, discount retail giant Aldi successfully secured the transfer of the domain name aldi-near-me.com from an American registrant, reinforcing its global trademark protections. The arbitration panel found that the domain, despite its passive use, was registered to reproducing the ALDI trademark in its entirety while misleading consumers into believing it was affiliated with Aldi’s official store locator or services. The panel highlighted Aldi’s significant international retail footprint, extensive trademark portfolio—including EU and UK registrations—and the brand’s distinctiveness as key factors in the decision. With more than 2,500 stores in the US and rising brand recognition, Aldi’s assertive approach underscores the growing strategic importance of domain name enforcement in brand protection.
  
  

  
  

  09/07/2025