News The Swiss watchmaker Glycine Watch SA has won a first battle in its legal struggle about the ownership of its trademark Glycine. The Civil Court of Rome admitted its claim against Griggio SpA for infringement of its trademark rights and unlawful competition. Admitting Glycine's request for conservatory measures against Griggio the Court ordered the seizure of all watch stocks, parts and sales documentation bearing the trademark Glycine. It further formally prohibited Griggio SpA and Ildebrando Griggio to use the trademark Glycine, by producing, selling or advertising watches and ruled that the decision be published, at Griggio's charge, in 3 major italian newspapers.
The differend began in the beginning of 2002 when Ildebrando Griggio, the owner of Griggio SpA, succeeded in registering the same trademark in his own name, using a peculiarity of the registration procedure in Italy (no meritorious examination). Through mailings and internet adverts Griggio "informed" suppliers and clients about his having "taken over" the trademark. Bearing the hat of the "new owner" he also put on the market watch fakes, produced through parallel channels and pompously launched by Griggio as "nuovi modelli".
November 21, 2002
