Dmitry Markanov gave a comment to Kommersant - Lionel Messi passed registration

Dmitry Markanov gave a comment to Kommersant - Lionel Messi passed registration

Why the Spanish company Massi opposed the creation of the footballer's trademark.

Footballer Lionel Messi has achieved registration of his trademark in Europe. He tried to do this since 2011, to produce clothes and sporting goods under his own brand. But he was prevented by the Spanish company Massi - they thought that the footballer's name will be too similar to their brand, and the buyer will not be able to distinguish the stores. Massi also produces clothes. On the side of the Spanish brand stood up the Office of Intellectual Property Rights of the EU. It denied Messi the right to register. In the end, the European Court of Justice put an end to the story - a few days ago it rejected the appeal of the regulator. Messi's last name can hardly be confused with anything else, said Dmitry Markanov, Managing Partner of Patentus:

"Messi and his last name are so well known that a one-letter difference is sufficient in this case. Having studied consumer opinion and perception of the designation, the court concluded that such a seemingly small difference is enough to ensure that the two brands are not confused. But what is important here is the identity of the rights holder himself - Messi. If it were not a world-famous footballer, but just some company from Spain that claimed such a mark, it would most likely be rejected. But the last name would definitely be distinguished from Massi".

Read the full article on the website of Kommersant.

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