UK IPO determined revocation proceedings were initiated for ulterior purpose.
Michael Gleissner, whose companies have filed a number of questionable trademarks, has been ordered by UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to pay Apple £38,085 as a result of a dispute.
Three Gleissner-connected companies filed to revoke 68 Apple trademarks covering terms such as iPhone and iPad. Apple argued that the cancellation petitions should be struck as an abuse of process.
Apple said that the cancellation proceedings were prompted by Apple’s defense in another action a Gleissner company brought. Bigfoot Internet Ventures Pte. Ltd filed to revoke Apple’s “Sherlock” trademark for non-use.
The IPO agreed, with a panelist writing, “I am satisfied that the real purpose of the revocation applications is to coerce Apple to surrender or assign its SHERLOCK registrations…”
and “I find that the applications for revocation were brought for an ulterior purpose without which these proceedings would not have been commenced.”
The IPO Registrar has now ordered Gleissner and three of his connected firms to pay a total of £38,085 to cover costs associated with the dispute. He can appeal the decision.
(Hat tip: George Kirikos)
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