Trade mark decision

BL Number
O/285/02
Decision date
19 July 2002
Hearing Officer
Mr D Landau
Mark
FORM ONLY MARK
Classes
06
Applicants
TWIL Limited
Opponents
Siddall & Hilton Mesh Limited
Opposition
Section 3(1)(b)*

Result

Section 3(1)(b): - Opposition successful.

Points Of Interest

  • 1. 3D marks
  • 2. If a trade mark has become distinctive, how that distinctiveness was acquired does not have a bearing on the issue.

Summary

The Hearing Officer wondered whether the public would see in the shape an indication of origin or merely the goods; being eye-catching or unusual or decorative was not enough. A priori, he decided, the mark was devoid of distinctive character, and he went on to see if it had become distinctive as a result of the use made of it.

In this, he decided, the relevant class of persons would be the type of people who order and buy wire fencing. There was some evidence of experts (both from trade associations), but no evidence from the relevant class. The Hearing Officer concluded that a distinctive character had not been acquired as a result of use, (although he rejected a submission that since such use as there had been, had the protection of a legal monopoly, a design right, it should therefore be discounted).

Full decision O/285/02 PDF document151Kb