Iceland Foods is engaged in a protracted legal battle over the use of the word ‘Iceland’ in the EU.
- The supermarket chain has initiated an appeal against a decision impacting its trademark rights.
- The conflict originated in 2016 with the Icelandic government’s challenge of the 2014 trademark.
- The EUIPO’s 2019 ruling revoking the trademark was upheld in 2022, leading to the current appeal.
- Despite legal setbacks, Iceland Foods continues to operate and expand internationally.
Iceland Foods, a prominent UK supermarket chain, finds itself embroiled in an intensive legal conflict with the Icelandic government over trademark rights in the European Union. This contentious dispute revolves around the exclusive use of the word ‘Iceland,’ which the retailer has utilized since 1970, signifying the ‘land of ice’ rather than the Nordic nation.
The genesis of this legal battle traces back to 2016 when the Icelandic government contested the chain’s EU trademark acquired in 2014. This challenge came after Iceland Foods attempted to restrict Icelandic producers from leveraging their country’s name for product marketing within the EU.
In 2019, the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) delivered a ruling that rescinded the supermarket’s trademark protection. Despite the adverse decision, Iceland Foods managed to maintain its operations and product sales across the European Union. The ruling, however, negated the company’s claim to exclusive rights over the ‘Iceland’ name within the bloc.
Executive chairman Richard Walker OBE has been at the forefront of this protracted legal struggle, representing the company in the General Court of The European Union in Luxembourg. In a LinkedIn update, Walker emphasized the significance of this ongoing litigation for his family’s business, underscoring its historical usage of the name since its establishment and current international presence in over 65 countries, including several within the EU and the European Economic Area.
Although the company has not issued an official comment regarding the ongoing proceedings, it is anticipated that the legal wrangling will persist for the foreseeable future. This intricate case highlights the complexities of trademark laws, especially when national identities intertwine with corporate branding.
The legal battle between Iceland Foods and the Icelandic government underscores the intricate dynamics of trademark disputes involving national identities and corporate interests.
