This is a trade mark opposition decision in BAFF's favour dated 24 July 2009. Paragraphs 28-30 of the decision document will show why it was regrettably necessary to oppose the trademark application in question, even though the published threats founded on the trademark application had no basis in law. Among several legal problems with the threats, they claimed the trademark to have been registered, whereas registration had been applied-for but not yet granted.

The trade mark applicant appealed against the opposition decision. After a further hearing, the appeal was dismissed and the original decision confirmed.

The trade mark applicant then made two attempts through the courts to avoid payment of the awarded expenses, his association having indicated after four years that the trade mark dispute had nothing to do with them. Both attempts were again unsuccessful, and the legally-enforceable expenses recovered from the applicant.

[This copy may differ slightly from that originally available on the official website, but it corrects an obvious minor textual error not affecting the decision, and we confirm that it is as issued to us by the Intellectual Property Office.]