Enfield, CT – EU Court Says LEGO Can’t Trademark Its Bricks

Enfield, CT – Danish toy maker Lego lost a trademark court battle today to protect its iconic plastic bricks in the European market.

The ruling by the European Union’s Court of First Instance will allow competitors to continue selling plastic building blocks similar to Lego’s in the EU’s 27 nations.

The Luxembourg-based court in a ruling today rejected the latest attempt by the Billund-based toy manufacturer to register a trademark for its standard-sized brick.

Lego secured a trademark for the brick in 1999 but the EU trademarks office canceled it five years later after an appeal by rival toy maker, Canada’s Mega Brands Inc., which makes similar blocks. The court on Wednesday backed the 2004 decision.

Lego spokeswoman Charlotte Simonsen said she expected the company would appeal the decision to the highest EU court.

“Of course, we’re disappointed,” said Simonsen, speaking from Lego headquarters in Billund, 150 miles west of Copenhagen. “We expect it will be appealed.”