The company, Cinkciarz.pl, has won a dispute with MasterCard in which MasterCard filed an opposition against the registration of the word-graphic trademark containing the word CONOTOXIA and two interlocking circles with the euro and dollar symbols in each of them.
In July this year, the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Investments dismissed the opposition of MasterCard on the grounds of wrongly claiming that the registered Cinkciarz.pl trademark is similar to the MasterCard trademarks containing two overlapping circles and the word element “CIRRUS” and which could therefore mislead potential customers. This decision is not yet legally final, as MasterCard may appeal against it within 30 days of its delivery.
This is yet another success for Cinkciarz.pl regarding disputes with MasterCard. Just this year alone the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain, has issued 12 decisions in favor of Cinkciarz.pl. These decisions dismissed MasterCard’s objections to the registration of the Cinkciarz.pl trademark in the European Union. The case won in Saudi Arabia is the first victory for Cinkciarz.pl over MasterCard outside of the European Union.
Professor Ewa Skrzydlo-Tefelska from the law firm Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak in Warsaw, Cinkciarz.pl’s representative explains, “it is a further victory for the company Cinkciarz.pl in the dispute with MasterCard concerning the registration of trademarks. In the coming months, we should reach a resolution in subsequent disputes over trademarks belonging to Cinkciarz.pl initiated by MasterCard in the Arab countries”.
