Audi wins trademark rights case over four-ring badge at ECJ

German car manufacturer Audi won a case defending its trademark rights to the carmaker's badge against a Polish car parts trader at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Thursday, reported dpa.

"A car manufacturer can prohibit the use of a sign identical or similar to the trademark it owns for spare parts," the ECJ said in a court press release.

Audi took a case against the Polish car parts trader, GQ, for selling non-original radiator grills adapted for old Audi car models with a component similar to an Audi four-ring badge.

The piece is designed to hold the signature emblem. The German car manufacturer wants to prohibit the sale of the non-original radiator grills bearing the logo and similar designs.

The car parts dealer challenged the case, questioning whether the use of emblem in the sale of parts violates trademark rights and asking if Audi had to the power to limit the logo's use in this context.

The ECJ ruled that Audi did have the power to enforce trademark rights, finding that the component designed to hold the car logo on the non-original radiator grills also had a marketing purpose.

The case now returns to the national court system in Poland to carry out a final ruling in line with the ECJ's decision.