The differences between Chanel’s and Huawei’s logos are “significant enough” that it does not constitute trademark plagiarizing, a European court ruled. The court in particular, said Chanel’s marks have more rounded curves, thicker lines and a horizontal orientation, whereas the orientation of the Huawei mark is vertical
The General Court of the European Union's ruling also marks a huge victory for Huawei on the international stage
FRENCH fashion house Chanel has lost a European Union court battle with Chinese tech company Huawei, which sought trademark protection for a logo it had claimed as too similar to its interlocking Cs.
The trademark spat underlines how luxury brands jealously guard their signature logos and trademarks that often symbolizes luxury, style and exclusivity to millions of people worldwide.
The case stemmed from an EU trademark protection filed by Huawei in 2017 for a logo to be used on computer hardware.
The emblem features two intertwining U-shaped lines, a design Chanel claimed was too similar to its logo which is protected under intellectual property.
However, the EU General Court in Luxembourg said that the “visual differences” in the two logos are “significant enough,” meaning that Huawei did not “plagiarize” the Chanel logo.
“In particular, Chanel’s marks have more rounded curves, thicker lines and a horizontal orientation, whereas the orientation of the Huawei mark is vertical,” the court ruled.
In 2019, the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) had also dismissed Chanel’s trademark objections, saying there was no similarity and no likelihood of confusion in the mind of the public.
The General Court of the European Union's ruling also marks a huge victory for Huawei on the international stage.
The Chinese tech giant had recently become the poster child of the Trump administration’s war on Chinese “intellectual property theft,” amid an escalating trade war between China and the US.
Chanel hasn’t commented on the ruling, which can be appealed. If unsatisfied with the ruling, Chanel has the opportunity to now appeal to the EU Court of Justice, Europe's highest tribunal. (NP)
Tags: #trademarks, #intellectualproperty, #Chanel, #Huawei