The Top 10 Biggest Trademark Battles of 2019
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Bentley Motors Vs Bentley Clothing
Bentley Motors is well-known for its luxury cars, but it also happens to sell clothing for all its Bentley avid fans. Well, this year a Manchester-based clothing company called Bentley 1962 sought an injunction against the motor brand to stop it using the name Bentley on clothing products in the UK.
It had originally attempted to defend its trademarks over the name ‘Bentley’ back in 1998 when Volkswagen took over the firm. It only reached High Court dispute status in 2017.
Bentley Motor’s overall response consisted of: “We’ve been selling our clothing for over 30 years without being confused.” Bentley 1962 claimed however that they had been established in clothing far longer and that their registered trademarks preceded the car maker’s. For several years, Bentley Motors has also been attempting to have the clothing brand’s trademark annulled at the UK IPO.
In November, a High Court judge finally ruled in favour of Bentley 1962 and their clothing brand, awarding the injunction, meaning Bentley Motors will no longer be able to use the name on its clothing ranges. The court also limited Bentley Motors’ clothing production to “jackets, silk ties, caps and scarves” only.
The BBC reports that according to Judge Richard Hacon the evidence gave the “strong impression” that as of the year 2000, Bentley Motors made a “conscious decision” to move forward with the use of the name Bentley on all of its clothing ranges, emphasising that the car firm’s moves in later years amounted to a “steady encroachment on Bentley Clothing’s goodwill” in the trademark.
