News

• Hyundai’s Global Evolution and Trademark Victory

  
  
  
  Since the debut of the Hyundai Pony in 1975, Hyundai Motor Company has grown into a major global force, ranking fourth in automobile market share and diversifying into sectors like finance, construction, and steel. Beyond its automotive roots, the South Korean conglomerate sponsors professional sports and has expanded its presence across international markets. Recently, Hyundai achieved a victory in a trademark opposition case before the EUIPO. The dispute centred on its claim against an international trademark registration for virtual goods and software under the 'Hyundai' name, filed by Hyundai Technology, Inc. The EUIPO ruled partially in Hyundai Motor Company’s favour, protecting its rights for specific goods such as computer software for data processing and image management. However, the decision allowed the contested trademark to proceed for virtual goods, like NFTs and digital assets, which were deemed dissimilar. The following visualisation compares the original and contested trademarks, highlighting the basis of the opposition and the distinct elements considered in the ruling. This case reinforces Hyundai’s proactive approach to safeguarding its brand identity while navigating the challenges of emerging digital markets, further solidifying its status as a global powerhouse.
  
  

  
  

  20/12/2024

• Carrefour’s Growth and Digital Trademark Defence

  
  
  
  Carrefour, a global retail leader since 1959, operates over 14,400 stores across 30 countries and generates €83 billion in annual revenue, leveraging a multi-format approach that spans hypermarkets, e-commerce, convenience stores, and ventures in travel, insurance, and banking. Despite strong competition from giants like Walmart and Schwarz Group, Carrefour continues to expand while fiercely protecting its trademarks in the digital space. Recently, the retailer secured two major wins in WIPO arbitration cases: three Spanish domains mimicking its 'Carrefour Express' brand were found to be registered in bad faith and transferred, and a typosquatted domain <carreffour.online> in Cyprus, hosting pay-per-click links to competitors, was similarly ruled against. The chart below illustrates Carrefour’s trademark portfolio categorized by trademark classes.
  
  

  
  

  18/12/2024

• An update to our trademark report is now available

    To access it, please log in to your account and go to the "Trademark" section. If you're not registered yet, simply sign up with your reference number.
  
  
  

  16/12/2024