EU MUST AWAIT PERMISSION TO USE HORIZON EUROPE TRADEMARK

The European Commission has already announced that the name of its new research framework programme for the period 2021 to 2027 will be "Horizon Europe”; however the Commission will have to wait another two months to find out whether it will be allowed to

The European Commission has already announced that the name of its new research framework programme for the period 2021 to 2027 will be "Horizon Europe”; however the Commission will have to wait another two months to find out whether it will be allowed to use it as the name is already registered in another company's name.

Mohawk Carpet Corporation, a subsidiary of an American carpet giant, filed for the use of the name for a carpet in the EU in 1996, and was awarded protected status in 1998. It has until 16 July to register “opposition” to the Commission’s use of the name, according to an official working at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

There is no indication that the American company, which makes carpets, rugs, tiles, laminate and wood flooring, and has facilities in 10 EU countries, will actually block the use of the trademark – but if it did, the Commission would be forced to search for a different name for its research programme. Nevertheless a legal source close to the case said said: “Because it’s the European Union that’s doing the asking, I think we could expect a friendly outcome.”

Carlos Moedas, the EU's research commissioner, is keen to use the Horizon Europe name as it bridges “the past and the future of research and innovation in Europe”.