West Bank – Opposition for LEE COOPER

In 1997, it came to our attention that a local company filed an application to register the famous trademark “LEE COOPER” in respect of clothing.

We notified the rightful owner, VIVAT HOLDINGS LTD (formerly known as LEE COOPER LIMITED) of this infringement on their trademark and obtained their consent to proceed with filing an opposition against the said application. During the opposition proceedings, the defendant claimed that the mark was not owned by VIVAT HOLDINGS, and that he had obtained approval from the rightful owner LEE COOPER COMPANY (which actually did not exist) to register the mark in this name. He further claimed that he and the alleged company were partners and had investment plans in the West Bank.

The evidence we submitted, which included the history of LEE COOPER and how the company changed its name several times before it was named VIVAT HOLDINGS LTD and the copies of the trademark registrations worldwide shattered all his claims and left him in total embarrassment before the Registrar and the Trademark Office. Without doubt, the decision came in our client’s favour, rejecting the registration of LEE COOPER in the defendant’s name.