Lego loses trademark challenge at top EU court

(Reuters) - Danish toymaker Lego failed on Tuesday to quash an EU agency's decision revoking trademark rights for its colourful snap-together plastic building blocks, after a top European court dismissed its appeal. The Luxembourg-based European Union Court of Justice (ECJ) upheld a 2008 ruling by the General Court, which dismissed Lego's challenge to the decision by trademark agency OHIM. "The Lego brick is not registrable as a Community trade mark. It is a sign consisting exclusively of the shape of goods necessary to obtain a technical result," the ECJ said.
"Undertakings may not use trade mark law in order to perpetuate, indefinitely, exclusive rights relating to technical solutions," it said.
Privately owned Lego, whose name originates from the Danish words for "play well", is Europe's biggest toy manufacturer and competes with Mattel (MAT.O) and Hasbro (HAS.N).
Lego had argued that the bricks were eligible for trademark rights as the studs on the top of the bricks made them highly distinctive.
OHIM had repealed an earlier decision to grant trademark rights for Lego bricks after objections from Canadian toymaker Mega Brands Inc (MB.TO).
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Charlie Dunmore) 

 

Toys-R-Us Sale

 

Here is the sale in Canada Only,  And don't bother to use your TOYS-R-US Rewards cards in Canada. They (Toys-R-Us Canada) just refuse to be a part in such a great program, or so i was told by an employee. They also claim in their flyer that they have the largest selection of Lego in Canada, well maybe at some stores, but at our local store, (NOT). Walmart and Zellers has a longer shelf space. Truly the largest selection is Lego.com and usually cheaper than TRU as well.  TRU sets higher prices on some of the LEGO so be careful of those sales, sometimes the lego sets are cheaper at other stores at regular price. I'm not saying don't buy there, just be careful if you want a deal.

interesting read

hilarypagetoys This is an interesting read for sure!  I found it on the Best-Lock Brick Page,  Also they (best-Lock) claim their bricks are Green , as they are made from Plant Based Material.  We found that the product is very cheap! You get what you pay for! 

Remembering 911

Remembering 911.

Lets at take a minute today to reflect, and remember all those who perished on Sept 11, 2001.

In Halifax Today we have the International AirShow at Shearwater Base where many diverted planes landed that dreadful day. I thought of this yesterday as the F-18's were flying overhead practicing for the show.

Here is a good Link to check of a musician from Newfoundland. I heard him sing this when I went home in August. He wrote it for 911.  http://www.eddiecoffey.ca/albums/Attack_on_america.html

Confirmed for Hal-con 2010

Myself and Noah will be at Hal-Con 2010 OCT 30-31 2010, Halifax NS with a table showcasing A Star Wars LEGO Display. The Millenium Falcon, The Death Star, and Boba Fett's Slave I. Since the actor that played Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch) will be there as a special guest. we can not take all our Star Wars Lego as it would fill 12 tables.  But we will have most of it the Nov sportsplex Show.