Lambretta: This is Not an Imitation!
Aug 08, 2011, 09:57 ET
MILAN, August 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
With reference to the statement sent on 2nd August 2011 by Lambretta SA (company in liquidation) to the press agencies worldwide, the companies Motom Electronics Group S.p.a. (MEG) and Clag International Ltd (CLAG) jointly specify as follows:
1) The trademark Lambretta was sold in 1972 by the Innocenti family, founder of the brand, to an Indian company called "Scooters India Ltd" (SIL).
2) In 2006, SIL granted a license for the use of the trademark Lambretta to an English company called Fine White Line Ltd. (FWL).
3) In 2010, FWL granted sub licenses for the use of the trademark Lambretta to MEG and CLAG for Class 12 products (engine power vehicles).
MEG and CLAG therefore use the trademark Lambretta by virtue of license agreements which allow them to sell, in most countries of the world, scooters with the trademark Lambretta.
Despite the legitimacy of the use of the mark Lambretta by MEG and CLAG, the "Lambretta Consortium" for several years has been trying to revoke the rights of the original Lambretta trademark, owned by SIL, alleging that the trademark had not been put to genuine use, with the purpose of prevailing with subsequent registrations of the trademark Lambretta made by the Consortium.
The Court in Milan (Italy) with three decisions (decision n. 8912/2010 of the 7.7.2010; injunction of 26.11.2008; injunction of 30.5.2011) has established that the trademark Lambretta owned by the Company SIL is valid and cannot be revoked and decided that so far there are no reasons to consider terminated the sub-license contract for the use of the trademark Lambretta.
Defeated in the Italian courts, the Lambretta Consortium is seeking to stop the industrial and commercial activities of MEG and CLAG, by taking actions around the world aimed at preventing suppliers and distributors of the legitimate sub-licensees from continuing the collaboration with MEG and CLAG.
At present the Lambretta Consortium is issuing press releases worldwide. In addition, the Lambretta Consortium filed an application to the OAMI, the European trademark and patent office, in order to register under the name of its holding company, Lambretta Srl, the intellectual property of the industrial models of a scooter designed and previously registered by CLAG.
These actions will be pursued before via MEG and CLAG's lawyers.
MEG and CLAG, confident of their rights, wish to inform their clients and suppliers that they continue with their industrial and commercial network, the re-launch around the world of the mythical brand Lambretta, of which they confirm to be legitimate sub-licensees.
Milan, 8th August 2011
Motom Electronics Group S.p.a.
Clag International Ltd
SOURCE Clag International Ltd