Currently reading: Land Rover blocks use of Defender name
High Court has ruled in favour of Land Rover to protect Defender name from Canadian company

Land Rover has prevented a Canadian company from using the name Defender for an all-terrain vehicle which has been marketed as a “fun, recreational off-roader”.

The company, Bombardier Recreational Products, was issued an order from the High Court blocking use of 'Defender' or other similar names, for example ‘Defender Max’, within the EU.

Jaguar Land Rover legal boss Keith Benjamin said: "We welcome this ruling, recognising the enforceability of our intellectual property rights and preventing use by third parties. 

“The Land Rover Defender is an iconic vehicle that is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s past, present and future. The success of our business is based on unique design and engineering attributes, and we intend to protect the brand robustly around the world.”

A spokesman added that the firm would “remain vigilant [on this matter] across more than 150 markets” in which it sells vehicles.

“This is an excellent outcome showing that Jaguar Land Rover will protect its brand resolutely and will pursue legal action wherever necessary, even against large companies: and this protection will include name, body shape and passing off anything similar,” he added.

Bombardier has also been ordered to pay a small amount in damages and legal costs and must remove the Defender badge from all products including brochures. 

The move by Land Rover also means that it is likely to try and prevent chemical firm Ineos, which recently expressed an interest in making a Defender-like model, from launching a vehicle. However, the company claims to have no plans to use the Defender name for its model.

The new Land Rover Defender, which promises to the brand’s most high-tech car yet, is already undergoing testing ahead of going on sale in 2019.

Read more on the upcoming Land Rover Defender

Read our review of the Discovery prototype

 

 

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bowsersheepdog 16 December 2016

Mud slinging

Ironic considering that the Land Rover was a copy of the Willys Jeep. Perhaps the Canadians could call their jeep the Indefensible.
vikapeza 15 December 2016

indeed person

Stay at home mom Kelly Richards from New York after resigning from her full time job managed to average from $6000-$8000 a month from freelancing at home… This is how she done

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braisim 15 December 2016

Patience

Maybe once brexit is out of the way Ineos will be able to use the Defender name in the EU?