The protection afforded to highly renowned trademarks
In recent weeks, news has circulated on legal websites that the Federal Court has annulled a registration for the "CHEVETTE DRINK" trademark.
The registration, with nominative presentation, was considered annullable for violating article 124, item VI, of the Civil Code. Industrial Property Law (LPI), which prohibits the registration of generic signs, commonly used to designate product characteristics, unless they are distinctive.
It so happens that the term Chevette is an expression used to designate a type of low-cost alcoholic drink, in analogy to the old Chevrolet vehicle. For this reason, the courts held that not just one businessman could hold the exclusive use of the expression in its nominative form, due to its lack of distinctiveness. If it were the other way around, i.e. a trademark with a mixed presentation and provided it had a sufficiently distinctive form, plus other nominative and/or figurative elements, the registration could even be admitted and remain in force.
The decision went that way.
But let's draw a parallel here. What if the trademark wasn't Chevette - with reference to the vehicle, whose trademark owned by General Motors has already been extinguished - but was FUSCA Drink. Could a company appropriate the term, albeit with a mixed and distinctive presentation, in a sector other than the automotive industry?
The answer is no.
The FUSCA trademark, owned by Volkswagen do Brasil, is a highly renowned trademark, protected by article 125 of the LPI. This means that the trademark, duly registered and with an annotation recognizing its high reputation, enjoys special protection, in all branches of activity. It is therefore forbidden to use it in any marketing segment, except by its owner.
No 3º Congresso Cerealista Brasileiro, contribuímos para ampliar o debate sobre as alternativas disponíveis aos credores diante do avanço da recuperação judicial no agronegócio. A apresentação conduzida por Thomas Dulac Müller, sócio-diretor da CPDMA, destacou os principais pontos de atenção para cerealistas e demais agentes da cadeia, com foco na organização coletiva, na atuação estratégica em […]
The Tax Reform, provided for in the Federal Constitution (art. 156-A), in Complementary Bill No. 108/2024, and in Complementary Law No. 214/2025, had as its main goal to transform the consumption taxation system in Brazil. Five complex taxes were eliminated — PIS, Cofins, IPI, ICMS, and ISS — which will be replaced by […]
A Terceira Turma do Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) proferiu uma decisão de grande impacto no Direito Empresarial e Processual, validando a arrematação de um imóvel de massa falida por apenas 2% de sua avaliação. Esta decisão é fundamental e reforça a prioridade da Lei de Falências (Lei nº 11.101/2005, atualizada pela Lei nº 14.112/2020) […]
Em recente julgamento (REsp 2.180.611-DF), a Terceira Turma do STJ estabeleceu um entendimento crucial que visa proteger o patrimônio do coproprietário ou cônjuge, em caso de penhora e arrematação de bens indivisíveis, que não tem responsabilidade pela dívida (o alheio à execução). O que mudou e o que você precisa saber? A lei (Código de Processo Civil - […]
O Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) firmou um importante entendimento no Tema Repetitivo 1368 sobre a taxa de juros de mora aplicável a dívidas de natureza civil no Brasil, antes da vigência da Lei n.º 14.905/2024. --- A tese firmada: o STJ estabeleceu que o artigo 406 do Código Civil de 2002 (em sua redação anterior à Lei […]
No agronegócio brasileiro, a busca por capital rápido em meio à escalada dos juros fez crescer uma estrutura já conhecida no mercado imobiliário urbano: o sale-and-leaseback. A lógica é direta: o produtor vende a área rural a um investidor, recebe o dinheiro à vista e, no mesmo ato, assina um contrato de arrendamento a longo prazo […]
This website uses cookies to improve your experience as you browse the website. Cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored in your browser as they are essential for the basic functionality of the website to function. We also use third-party cookies, which help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Cookies will be stored on your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt out of cookies. However, disabling some cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Functional cookies help in performing certain functionality such as sharing website content on social media platforms, collecting feedback and other third-party features.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information about the metrics of the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertising cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant advertisements and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors to websites and collect information to deliver personalized advertisements.
Necessary cookies are those that are absolutely essential for the proper functioning of the website. These cookies guarantee basic functionality and security features of the website, anonymously.