Two H’s against two C’s, both crossed. However, for the Court of the European Union, the logo of the Huawei tech brand cannot be traced back to that of the Chanel fashion house. This concludes the lawsuit brought by the French company against the Chinese group in 2017, which had as its object a logo deemed too similar, consisting of two crossed Hs.
In 2019, the European Union Intellectual Property Office rejected Chanel’s application. He had judged that there was no risk of confusion in public between the two logos. That of the double C is immediately recognizable and can be associated with Chanel. The French brand had later appealed against this decision, to request its annulment, but the Court of the European Union rejected the appeal.
He found that the Huawei trademark is «a figurative sign composed of a circle containing two curves that resemble the image of two black letters” u “. These arranged vertically and opposite each other, they cross and intersect to form a central element, which constitutes a horizontal ellipse».
As for the two Chanel brands, a note released by the Court reads: «they are composed of two curves that resemble the image of two black letters” c “, arranged horizontally and one opposite the other. They cross and intersect to form a vertical ellipse, where the second has the peculiarity of containing the said curves in a circle».
To date, a new definitive ruling mentions that: “the trademarks are not similar, and the comparison must be identified on the respective trademarks as they were registered or requested without changing their orientation”.
Confusing a luxury fashion brand with new smartphone technologies is unlikely. Visual differences are also marked as regards the thickness of the letters and their outlines. The symbol chosen by Chanel represents the class and elegance of clothing, very far from the world of telephony. Therefore, the EU Court expressed itself for the last time confirming that the Chinese company carried out no plagiarism. The inspiration would not recall the fashion house, not risking to confuse the public in any way.
