Puma’s Reputation in Other Cases Relevant to Trademark Opposition

Footwear and apparel maker Puma SE will get to use victories in past trademark proceedings as evidence of the reputation of its leaping cat logo to oppose another company’s registration application, an adviser to the European Union’s highest court said today.

The advisory opinion by an advocate general for the Court of Justice of the European Union would makes it easier for an established trademark owner to oppose a registration application filed with the EU Intellectual Property Office simply by referring to the EUIPO’s past decisions. That saves a company like Puma from having to establish the reputation of its ...