German company Hugo Boss wins intellectual property case in Astana

Tengrinews.kz – The Specialized Interdistrict Administrative Court in Astana has ruled in favor of the German company Hugo Boss AG regarding intellectual property rights. The company had filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn a prior decision on trademark registration, according to the court’s press service.
On March 25, 2022, a trademark "B…B…K" was registered in the state register of trademarks in Kazakhstan. Hugo Boss AG objected to this registration and appealed to the Ministry of Justice's Appellate Council. The appeal was denied, prompting Hugo Boss AG to seek legal recourse in the Astana Administrative Court.
The company argued that the registration of the trademark was invalid, as it holds rights to nine international "BOSS" trademarks.
An expert specializing in intellectual property was brought in to assess the similarity between the disputed trademark and Hugo Boss AG’s registered marks. The expert concluded that there was significant similarity leading to potential confusion.
The court accepted the expert’s findings as valid and ruled in favor of Hugo Boss AG. The court also invalidated the Appellate Council’s decision, nullifying the registration of the "B…B…K" trademark.

"The plaintiff's rights to intellectual property have been restored. The court decision has not yet come into effect," the court added.