Legal updates and opinions
News / News
MESSI is a trade mark
By Janine Hollesen and Donvay Wegierski, Directors
In April, the EU court ruled that the degree of similarity between the marks MASSI and MESSI is not sufficiently high to accept that the relevant public may believe that the goods come from the same source. It went further saying that a significant portion of the public would in fact associate the term MESSI with the famous footballer and will therefore perceive MASSI as being conceptually different.
The EU trade mark owner of MASSI for clothing, shoes, bicycle helmets, protective clothing and gloves had previously opposed Barcelona and Argentinian football player Messi’s application for MESSI due to their visual and phonetic similarity in 2013 which opposition was upheld in the first round. The appeal court overturned the ruling allowing Messi’s marks to be registered. With the FIFA 2018 WORLD CUP underway – with a rather dubious start for Messi – this successful appeal favouring Messi is no doubt welcomed.
If you would like to learn more about Intellectual Property please visit our practice area page.
Latest News
Cracking Down or Catching Up? South Africa’s Approach to Crypto Regulation: Part 3 – Exchange Control
by Armand Swart - Director - Deon Griessel, Hilah Laskov - Director and Hlonelwa Lutuli - Associate Introduction Crypto assets [...]
Defamation in Labour Law – Manqele V Baloyi Masango Inc Attorneys and Others (896/2023) [2025] Zampmbhc 75 (12 August 2025)
by Bankey Sono, Director and Neo Sewela, Senior Associate It is not unusual for employers to appoint a law firm [...]
Voluntary liquidations: A cost effective and efficient method of conducting a corporate clean-up, and for ending the existence of dormant companies
by Brendan Olivier Quite understandably, the word 'liquidation' can send shivers down the spine, and cause a company director to [...]
Substance dependence in the workplace- misconduct or incapacity?
by Bradley Workman-Davies - Director, Nasheetah Smith - Senior Associate & Isabella Keeves - Candidate Attorney One of the challenges [...]
Cutting the baby in half – when equality meets reality: Paid maternity leave after Van Wyk v Minister of Employment and Labour
by Bradley Workman-Davies, Director and Kerry Fredericks, Director The Constitutional Court's recent judgment in Van Wyk and Others v Minister [...]
SME cashflow threats: when liquidation strikes a supplier or customer
by Brendan Olivier An SME that permits its customers and suppliers to trade with it on credit terms, does so [...]

