We are assisting one of Latvia’s most legendary rock bands, Līvi, in protecting its trade mark rights. Līvi are considered pioneers in Latvian rock music, having made a significant impact during a time when Latvian-language music was affected by Soviet censorship. The band has managed to secure its legacy not only through concerts and recordings but also through its enduring influence on new generations of musicians. Today, Līvi’s music and story remain popular and celebrated in Latvian society.
About the case
One of the band’s founding members, who left the group in its early years, has filed an application with the Patent Office to register the trade mark “Līvi.” However, since this individual left the band more than 40 years ago – prior to its rise to fame in Latvia – he has no legal rights to the mark.
Therefore, Līvi filed an opposition against the trade mark registration with the Patent Office’s Board of Appeal, based on the following grounds:
- Over the years, the rock band’s trademark “Līvi” has acquired the status of a well-known trade mark. This means that, although the band has not registered the mark, the intellectual property rights belong to LĪVI, led by Ainars Virga, due to its strong name recognition.
- The opposition is also based on rights acquired through economic activity by using the band’s legal name: Association “Līvi Roxx.”
- Finally, the opposition is based on the trademark applicant’s bad faith in filing the application to register the mark. In this case, it is legally irrelevant that the applicant for the contested mark was one of the band’s founding members, as the trade mark only became recognisable after this member left the group. By this conduct, the applicant has sought to create obstacles to Līvi’s concert activities.
Our team
Our team includes partner Andris Tauriņš and assistant lawyer Krišjānis Knodze.
