Asics Can’t Block Hash Mark EU Trademark Registration (1)

Asics Corp. failed to block a Dutch clothing company’s trademark registration in the European Union for sports clothes and shoes.

The EU General Court Oct. 16 affirmed the EU Intellectual Property Office’s decision in favor of Van Lieshout Textielagenturen BV.

Japanese footwear company Asics opposed Van Lieshout’s application, arguing the logo would be confusingly similar to Asics’ logo mark. They both have four intersecting lines. Both registrations are for clothing and footwear-related goods.

Van Lieshout and Asics logos

The court said consumers likely won’t be confused because the two marks leave different impressions.

Van Lieshout’s logo has two pairs of parallel lines intersecting, forming ...