Swatch and Ice-Watch: decision of phonetic question!

CEO of the watch company Ice-Watch Jean Pierre Lutgen confirmed that an agreement between the company Swatch and Ice-Watch was signed in Bern (Switzerland).

Litigation between the two watch companies were first started, when in 2006 the Belgian owners registered trademark Ice-Watch. At the same time, a watch concern Swatch opposed registration of the trademark, citing the phonetic confusion because the name Swatch and Ice-Watch are quite similar in sound. However, in May 2008 the parties reached a common agreement of coexistence, but this did not prevent the company Ice-Watch to defend their rights to apply to the Court of Arbitration of Bern. This step helped to ease the process of "reconciliation" between the two sides, resulting in January 21, 2014 an agreement was signed on the existence of a trademark.

Jean-Pierre Lutgen

This agreement is a set of measures aimed at preventing the very different kind of disagreement between the parties, as well as a complete cessation of litigation between the companies Swatch and Ice-Watch. Both sides have a policy of confidentiality regarding the content of the agreement. This agreement will allow the company Ice-Watch to apply resources to develop a variety of new projects, including the development online smartwatch, as well as the acquisition of the Swiss brand.

Jean Pierre Lutgen commented: "I am very pleased with this agreement which strengthens the Ice-Watch brand and the concept, and puts a definitive end to the litigation. This proves that Ice-Watch is a mature and well-established company. It will allow us to focus our efforts on the development of the brand, and on a number of projects we have in the pipeline."

Freya