Court Says U.S. Polo's Logo Tramples Ralph Lauren Trademark

According to a ruling by a federal judge, Ralph Lauren Polo has more of a right to an image of a man playing polo than the organization that represents the sport.

The Daily Mail reports the U.S. Polo Association is not allowed to use its logo on some of its products because it infringes on Ralph Lauren license holder L’Oréal USA Inc.’s rights. The decision slaps down U.S. Polo’s lawsuit, filed in November, that contended Ralph Lauren was “attempting to monetize the depiction of the sport of polo.”

The USPA logo depicts two polo players doing whatever it is that polo players do, while the Ralph Lauren logo features one man.

Said the judge:

“There is…clearly room in our vast society for both the USPA parties and the PRL [Polo Ralph Lauren] parties to engage in licensing activities that do not conflict with one another, and nothing contained in this opinion should be construed as precluding such activities. Nonetheless, to the extent the USPA parties use ‘polo’ in conjunction with the double horsemen mark on fragrances, this is another matter.”

Do you get think the judge’s ruling was fair?

Causing a chukka: Ralph Lauren wins case against U.S. Polo Association over right to use horseman logo [Daily Mail]

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