Fresh from their victory over Southampton in the Carabao Cup this week, Leicester City has picked up another win, this time in the form of a trademark dispute against Leeds City.
The ruling from the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) comes after Premier League side Leicester City had opposed the registration of two trademarks by non-professional football team Leeds City, who play in the West Yorkshire Football League.
Last summer, The Yorkshire side applied to register two trademarks, that feature a shield flanked by an owl either side and include the lettering LCFC. These trademarks were in relation to printed items, clothing and footwear, badges and the education and delivery of training.
Leicester City opposed the trademarks regarding the LCFC lettering based on their ownership of a UK trademark for LCFC. The former Premier League champions claimed the applied for trademarks by Leeds City were similar to their own and covered identical goods within the same industry.
They claimed that Leeds City was using the LCFC branding to ride on the reputation of Leicester City.
Matthew Williams acting on behalf of the UKIPO found that the goods and services covered by the trademarks was identical and concluded that there was a likelihood of confusion, ruling in favour of Leicester City.
Mr Williams said: “The marks differ notably in that the applicant’s mark has large and striking device elements, entirely absent from the opponent’s earlier mark. However, the opponent’s earlier mark features in its entirety in the applicant’s mark, occupying a central and striking position.
“The two marks are both aurally and conceptually similar to a degree between medium and high.”