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Westlife loses trademark case
04/05/2005 12:55 - (SA)
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| Westlife, from left, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Kian Egan. (AP File) |
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Luxembourg - Irish boyband Westlife lost a case in a European Union (EU) court on Wednesday against the owners of Germany's popular West cigarette brand who challenged the use of the pop group's name as a trademark.
The European Court of First Instance annulled the registration of the name Westlife at the EU's trademark office saying it was too similar to the German trademark of West.
Reemark Gesellschaft fuer Markenkooperation GmbH claimed use of the Westlife name on clothing and other merchandise could cause confusion with its trademarks.
"The court finds that there is a likelihood of confusion between the two trademarks," the judgment said. "Consequently, the contested decision must be annulled."
The panel of European judges ordered costs to be paid by the EU's trademark office which had contested the case after registering the Westlife name in 2002.
Westlife has released a record 12 No 1 singles in Britain and sold more than 30 million records worldwide in their five-year career.
Their first single Swear It Again came out trumps on the charts for 13 weeks and was succeeded by more chart-topping hits including Flying Without Wings and a cover of Billy Joel's Uptown Girl.
- AP
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