From the email newsletter of Jordan-based IP practice NJQ & Associates comes news that Enjoy Media, a Moroccan company, filed a trade mark application for ABSOLUT EVENTS for goods in class 16 back in February 2012. After the application was published for opposition on 8 March 2012 (there's a window of two months for opposition purposes),
V&S Vin & Sprit Aktiebolag, the Swedish producer of ABSOLUT vodka, opposed the application. This opposition was based on the following grounds:
• Similarity to Vin & Sprit's mark ABSOLUT, registered in Morocco for goods in classes 16, 35, 41, and 43 since January 2010;
• The mark ABSOLUT was previously registered in its country of origin (i.e. Sweden) back in 1993, and
• The fact that ABSOLUT is a well-known trade mark which enjoys has a world-wide reputation.
Having heard both parties in full, the Register for Trade Marks upheld the opposition.
Note: NJQ & Associates acted for the successful party in these proceedings.
