Och-Ziff Management Europe Ltd & Anor v Och Capital LLP & Anor

Och-Ziff Management Europe Ltd & Anor v Och Capital LLP & Anor

OCH Capital's use of 'OCH Capital' and related signs in relation to financial services infringed the OCH and OCH-ZIFF Trade Marks under Article 9(1)(b) due to likelihood of confusion, including initial interest confusion, and amounted to passing off. The defence under Article 12(a) failed as the use was not in accordance with honest practices. The OCH Trade Mark was not registered in bad faith. Union and Mr Ochocki are jointly liable.

Parties
Claimant: Och-Ziff Management Europe Limited; Claimant: OZ Management LP; Defendant: OCH Capital LLP; Defendant: Union Investment Management Limited; Defendant: Thomas Tadeus Antoni Ochocki
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
20 October 2010
Procedural Posture
Civil / Judgment
Outcome
Claims for infringement of OCH and OCH-ZIFF Trade Marks under Article 9(1)(b) and passing off succeed; claim under Article 9(1)(a) fails; defence under Article 12(a) fails; Union and Mr Ochocki jointly liable.
Legal Topics
Trade Mark Infringement, Passing Off, Community Trade Mark, Likelihood of Confusion, Bad Faith Registration, Joint Tortfeasor Liability
Intellectual Property Commercial Law Trade Mark Infringement Passing Off Community Trade Mark Likelihood of Confusion Bad Faith Registration Joint Tortfeasor Liability

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Parties

Och-Ziff Management Europe Limited

Claimant

OZ Management LP

Claimant

OCH Capital LLP

Defendant

Union Investment Management Limited

Defendant

Thomas Tadeus Antoni Ochocki

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil / Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether OCH Capital LLP infringed the OCH and OCH-ZIFF Community Trade Marks under Article 9(1)(a) and (b) of Regulation 207/2009/EC
  2. 2 Whether OCH Capital LLP committed passing off against Och-Ziff
  3. 3 Whether the OCH Trade Mark was registered in bad faith under Article 52(1)(b)

Ratio Decidendi

OCH Capital's use of 'OCH Capital' and related signs in relation to financial services infringed the OCH and OCH-ZIFF Trade Marks under Article 9(1)(b) due to likelihood of confusion, including initial interest confusion, and amounted to passing off. The defence under Article 12(a) failed as the use was not in accordance with honest practices. The OCH Trade Mark was not registered in bad faith. Union and Mr Ochocki are jointly liable.

Court Disposition

Claims for infringement of OCH and OCH-ZIFF Trade Marks under Article 9(1)(b) and passing off succeed; claim under Article 9(1)(a) fails; defence under Article 12(a) fails; Union and Mr Ochocki jointly liable.

Orders

  • Declaration of infringement of OCH and OCH-ZIFF Trade Marks under Article 9(1)(b)
  • Declaration of passing off