Vossius & Partner

Firm overview:

Munich IP boutique Vossius & Partner was established in 1961 and now contains more than 300 employees from over 20 different nations close to major trademark and patent and trademark offices and courts. Peers note Vossius is a regular on the other side in trademarks litigation cases and have been impressed by the growth of the firm. “About 10 to 15 years ago we were bigger than them, but they are bigger than us now. So they must be doing something right.” The firm has a thriving practice registering marks for German and international clients.

Team overview:

A team of five partners and four other lawyers, backed by a team of trademark paralegals, advise in all matters relating to the registration of trademarks and designs. They also represent clients in connection with all trademark and design infringements and litigation, as well as in competition proceedings. They frequently conduct proceedings before the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), the German Federal Patent Court and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) as well as German civil courts.

Key matters:

• WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center: Administrative Panel Decision Miele & Cie. KG v. Privacy Service provided by Withheld for Privacy ehf / Rihards Doncenko Case No. D2022-3349. Vossius represented Miele & Cie. KG as the Complainant in a domain name dispute regarding mieleoutlet.com.
• As the owner of several MIELE trademarks with protection throughout the world the complaint contended that the disputed domain name was highly similar to “MIELE”, as it contained the word “MIELE” and merely incorporated a descriptive element “outlet”, that would be simply understood as an agency through which (discount) products are marketed.
• The disputed domain name was registered on August 8, 2022 by the Respondent, and resolved to a website where goods were offered that were identical to those for which the Complainant’s Trade Mark has been registered, such as vacuum cleaners, coffee machines and fridges.
• The complaint concluded the Respondent had no rights or legitimate interests to the disputed domain name. The Panel ordered the disputed domain name to be transferred to Miele & Cie. KG.

Clients:

Araris Biotech, Beijing Roborock Technology, ee zee Vertriebs, Flavors of Americas, INSEMPRA, Kranich Pharma, MAN Brand, Meika-Biofutter, Microgen Laboratories, Miele, Quantica, Running Red, Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics