Irish boyband Westlife loses trademark fight

Four-member group Westlife lost the right to hold onto a trademark on its name. The band cannot stop other people from using it.

Irish boyband Westlife lost the right to hold onto a trademark on its name on Wednesday when a European Union court ruled the name was too similar to another trademark, West, which is owned by a German firm.

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While the four-member group, which has had a string of chart-topping hits in Britain, can still use the name Westlife on merchandise, it cannot stop other people from using it.

In 2003, the EU's Community Trademark Office allowed the band to register Westlife as a trademark despite opposition from a German company, Reemark Gesellschaft fur Markenkooperation mbH, which said it was too similiar to its trademark West.

The EU's lower court, the Court of First Instance, found in favour of the German firm on Wednesday and annulled the Westlife trademark, saying the names were too alike and would confuse customers.

"The court finds that there is a likelihood of confusion between the two trademarks," the court judgement said.

"The contested (EU Community Trademark Office) decision must be annulled."