News from Across The Pond: Lego and Mega Brands face off in court
Canadian toy maker takes another shot at Lego
Canada-based toy maker Mega Brands has filed an action against Lego in the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California, seeking to invalidate Lego¹s 1999 functional U.S. trademark.
The legal action has come about after Mega Brands was told by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency that the Lego ³intends to restrict the importation of certain of its products which have been sold in the U.S. for
over 20 years,² the company commented statement issued late last week.
Mega Brands say it seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction which will safeguard the fact that products sold in the US are not affected by Lego¹s 1999 trademark.
Lego's patents had expred some 20 years ago and courts in a number of other countries dismissed claims that its world-renowned bricks are protected, therefore ensuring that no othe company can make rbicks and blocks and that
no one can make blocks using the same eight-knob pattern, according to Mega Brands.
³Courts around the world, including the United States, have ruled against its attempts to use trademark law for functional elements,² Mega Brands says.
Team TnP wlll keep you posted with information as it develops.
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