When a Business Name Isn’t Enough: A Recent Trademark Case I Handled

As an IP attorney, I often come across cases that remind me just how crucial it is to protect your intellectual property, especially when it comes to trademarks. Recently, I had the opportunity to represent a client in a case that illustrates this perfectly—and it was a big win!

Our client’s trademark, Cyprus mark No. 91721 "ALFA," was registered in class 9 for a mobile application for booking taxis. It’s a straightforward idea, but when a business with the name ALFA TAXI SERVICES PANICOS tried to block the registration based purely on their business name, things got interesting. They assumed that having a business name would be enough to stop our client’s trademark from going through. Well… not quite!

In Cyprus, just having a business name doesn’t automatically give you the right to block someone’s trademark. Trademarks and business names operate under different rules and protections, and our client’s registered trademark offered a much stronger level of security. We were able to demonstrate that, and the outcome was a victory for our client.

What’s important here isn’t just the win (though that was obviously huge for our client!). This case shows that there are no "easy" wins in IP law. Every decision, every defense, and every strategy matters. It’s also a reminder of how crucial it is to secure your IP rights early on. Just because your business name is out there doesn’t mean it’s protected in the same way a trademark would be.

As someone who’s been practicing in this field for years, I can tell you that IP protection is something you should never overlook. If you’ve got a brand, a product, or an idea, make sure you’re protecting it the right way. After all, your IP is one of the most valuable assets your business has!

Feel free to reach out if you want to chat about your own trademarks or any IP concerns. I'm always here to help guide businesses through the complexities of IP law!