The London Taxi business has lost an charm to retain special rights to the shape of its legendary ‘black cab’, with the Court of charm specifying the shape is ‘not unique enough’.
According to news company press Association, the Coventry-based manufacturer – now trading as the London electric vehicle business (LEVC) – attempted to trademark its unique black cab shape to stop rival manufacturers creating their own black cab variants.
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Lord Justice Kitchin as well as Lord Justice Floyd upheld a ruling made by high court judge Mr Justice Arnold, who in January 2016 ruled that the shape was not a “valid registered trademark”.
Wednesday’s situation dismissal paves the method for LEVC’s rival Frazer-Nash Research, which together with Ecotive, creates the hybrid-electric Metrocab, which bares resemblance to its LEVC black cab rival. While the Court of charm dismissed the trademark case, the London Taxi business may now take its situation to the ultimate Court.
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Lawyer Mike Gardner outlined exactly how difficult it is for manufacturers to trademark its designs. He said: “The London Taxi business has been trying to prevent a rival manufacturer from creating a new style of London taxi which it declares infringes its intellectual residential property rights in the original shape.”
“The situation illustrates exactly how difficult it can be for anyone to acquire a long-term monopoly to protect the shape of something as a brand – even where that shape is iconic.”
What do you believe of the latest ruling on the black cab shape? let us understand below!
