Danske Spil wins trademark case against Ladbrokes

01/11/2012 : DANSKE SPIL WINS TRADEMARK CASE AGAINST LADBROKES (Update)
 
… and the exclusive right to use "Danske Spil"
 
Danish state-controlled monopoly Danske Spil has emerged the victor in a marketing law and trademark infringement case against Ladbrokes relating to a marketing campaign run by the bookmaker in the country in 2008.
 
The campaign, run from May to September 2008 carried the strap line "Danske Spil Engelske Odds" (translating as "Danish Games English Odds") as well as the following text through out the campaign: Hvad er Ladbrokes (what is Ladbrokes?), Danske spil (Danish games), Samme spil/Samme tryghed (Same games/Same safety), Engelske Odds (English Odds), Større gevinst/Bedre service (Bigger winnings/Better service).
 
The High Court overturned a previous ruling made by the Maritime and Commercial Court in Copenhagen  and ruled that the campaign was unlawful within the boundaries of Denmark's marketing law on fair and competitive practice.
 
“We are very satisfied with the sentence and welcome the liberalised gambling market. However, it is important to us that our new competitors play by the rules. Consequently, it is fine that the High Court has now defined fair play within marketing”, said chief executive officer H. C. Madsen of Danske Spil.
 
Even more of a coup will be a further ruling by the court that the state-controlled monopoly has the exclusive right to use the common words Danske Spil (Danish Games) as they are associated by the Danish people with the business and products of Danske Spil.
 
The High Court acquitted Danske Spil of all other charges brought by Ladbrokes that included EU regulatory violation claims.