Chanel has unsurprisingly lost a trademark dispute with Huawei Technologies, a Chinese technology titan. The EU court held that while the marks “share some similarities” the “visual differences are significant.” The dispute arose in 2017 when Chanel objected to Huawei’s application in the EU, claiming that the marks were too similar. The trademark office dismissed the objection and Chanel subsequently challenged the ruling. Chanel’s main argument is that they have a registration that “consists of interlocking C’s for use on goods in Class 9 (namely, “cameras, sunglasses, glasses; earphones and headphones; computer hardware”).” This happens to be the same class that Huawei is looking to register its logo. The tribunal judges said that “the marks must be compared as applied for and registered, without altering their orientation.” As you can see, the curves face a different direction and Chanel’s lines are thicker and more rounded. Not to mention, the goods they offer are in completely different trade channels – Chanel offering perfume, luxury bags, and clothing, and Huawei Technologies offering computer hardware and the like. Chanel has an opportunity to appeal this decision to the highest court, the European Court of Justice.
Chanel… computers? Unlikely.
