Trademark infringement disputes are a dime a dozen, although they are not as rampant within the automotive trade in comparison with different companies. One of many few that got here to gentle was the emblem dispute between the French automaker Citroën and the Swedish carmaker Polestar, which reached a ruling in 2020.
In response to Le Monde, that dispute is now over. A Citroën spokesperson confirmed so with the French newspaper, saying that the complaints have been withdrawn and that the case is closed. Particulars of the decision weren’t disclosed.
The dispute between Citroën and Polestar dates again to 2017 when the latter grew to become a standalone automaker with robust ties with Volvo. With that got here a brand new Polestar brand that featured two chevrons pointing at one another, forming a four-pointed star.
Citroën – and subsequently, DS Cars, each Stellantis manufacturers – accused Polestar of counterfeiting and model picture infringement resulting from this brand revamp, citing feedback from Web customers who seen the similarities.
In 2020, a French court docket dismissed the design infringement case, saying that there is a weak similarity between the logos plus their layouts differ from one another.
Nonetheless, Citroën gained the case in opposition to trademark infringement. The court docket stated Polestar’s equally formed chevrons harkened to Citroën’s identification as “the model with the chevrons.” Polestar might then inderectly profit from the popularity of Citroën’s chevrons.
That stated, court docket ordered Polestar to pay Citroën 150,000 euros in damages for the infringement of the trademark’s distinctive character. The Swedish automaker was additionally prohibited to make use of its brand in France for six months, a lot so that individuals in France weren’t in a position to entry Polestar’s website. The ruling by no means obtained lifted after the interval; Citroën even petitioned to increase the ruling throughout Europe earlier this 12 months.
With that dispute now settled, it appears to be like like Polestar can begin promoting its vehicles in France, transferring ahead. An official announcement could possibly be underway, so we’ll maintain an ear to the bottom.
