Manchester Clothing Business Launches Trade Mark Claim against Bentley Motors

The dispute rumbles on for Bentley and family clothing company Brandlogic who have been locked in a trademark quarrel with the motor giant since 2000.

Brandlogic, which owns the Manchester-based 1962 clothing brand, are seeking an injunction to stop the motor firm using its brand name ‘Bentley’ for the sale of clothing in the UK.

The clothing companies registered trademark goes back to 1982 and has been established since 1962. Christopher Lees, a director of the family run business said “our registered trademarks precede the carmaker selling clothing by many years” and claimed the car manufacturer  had “badly damaged the business”.

At its peak in the early to mid-1990s, the clothing brand generated £5m of sales within a year. However, the company’s sales are now significantly less with takings of £100,000 per annum as Mr Lees claims it had been “badly hampered” with “persistent infringements” by Bentley Motors’ over the trademark.

The file for the claim was lodged last year with Mr Lees stating that he had hoped to resolve the dispute amicably however, had been rebuffed by Bentley Motors who refused and attempted to cancel the clothing lines trademark in the UK. The Intellectual Property Office ruled in Mr Lees favor.

"For my business to survive, and to grow again, we have no choice but to take this legal action, said Mr Lees”.

Bentley Motors in its turn said: “We are disappointed to have reached this stage. We have been selling clothing for more than 30 years without being confused for any other brand. We believe we have the right to continue to do so and will defend these proceedings when they are heard in July 2019.”

By Sena Tokel- a student at Southampton Solent University