EU Court Backs IKEA in Trademark Row

The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on Tuesday that the owner of the Inter IKEA trademark may take legal action to prevent its use in a political campaign.

The Belgian anti-immigration party Vlaams Belang and the Vrijheidsfonds association used designations similar to IKEA’s trademarks and images reminiscent of the Swedish furniture retailer’s well-known assembly instructions during their 2022 campaign.

According to the Court of Justice, the company may take action against such conduct unless the party can demonstrate that its right to freedom of expression outweighs the rights and interests of the trademark owner.

The decision follows a request from a Belgian court for legal clarification in a dispute that began when Inter IKEA filed a lawsuit in 2023. The Luxembourg-based court emphasized that merely invoking freedom of expression does not justify the unauthorized use of a well-known trademark.

According to the court, the campaign was designed primarily to exploit IKEA’s reputation to increase the visibility and impact of a political message. It found that the use of the trademarks was likely to damage the brand’s reputation and the interests of its owner.

The case will now return to the Belgian Commercial Court in Brussels, which will decide whether the use of IKEA’s trademarks was justified under EU law, taking into account the Court of Justice’s guidance. Inter IKEA welcomed the ruling and emphasized the importance of protecting its intellectual property.

Vlaams Belang said it had taken note of the ruling and would thoroughly examine its implications for further legal proceedings.

(Reuters, max)