EU Court Tosses Key Louis Vuitton Trademark

The checkered pattern that luxury shoppers world-wide recognize as the pattern of French fashion house Louis Vuitton is no longer exclusively trademarked to the brand after a European court threw it out. The EU court cancelled two of the brand’s trademarks this month – the brown and beige pattern, trademarked in 1998, and a black and grey version registered in 2008 – after a German retailer, Nanu-Nana, challenged it in court. EIP trademark attorney Sharon Saboul told Global Trader the move came as a “double blow” to Louis Vuitton, which is expected to appeal.