‘European Voice’ wins court case

Date: 21/03/1996

EUROPEAN Voice last week won a legal battle over its right to use the word 'European' in its title when a judge dismissed claims by The European newspaper that the name infringed its registered trademark.

The European claimed that the use of the word European in both titles could confuse readers and took its case to the High Court in London, seeking a ruling which would have forced European Voice to change its name.

But the judge dismissed the case, saying: “In my judgement, one only has to look at copies of the two newspapers to see that the appearance and layout are very different.”

He added: “There is also no doubt that the contents of the two newspapers reflect the fact that they are currently aimed at different markets - The European at a public wanting a general interest newspaper dealing with European affairs, European Voice at persons more directly involved in the various European Union agencies.”

The judge concluded that the title was not similar to The European's trademark “in any way that can be said to create confusion on the part of the public”.

A spokesman for The Economist Group, which publishes European Voice, said after the case: “We were surprised that The European ever brought this case and are pleased with the judge's ruling.”

The European was given 28 days to decide whether to lodge an appeal against the judgement.