Land Rover has prevented a Canadian company from using the name Defender for an all-terrain vehicle which has been marketed as a “fun, recreational off-roader”.
The company, Bombardier Recreational Products, was issued an order from the High Court blocking use of 'Defender' or other similar names, for example ‘Defender Max’, within the EU.
Jaguar Land Rover legal boss Keith Benjamin said: "We welcome this ruling, recognising the enforceability of our intellectual property rights and preventing use by third parties.
“The Land Rover Defender is an iconic vehicle that is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s past, present and future. The success of our business is based on unique design and engineering attributes, and we intend to protect the brand robustly around the world.”
A spokesman added that the firm would “remain vigilant [on this matter] across more than 150 markets” in which it sells vehicles.
“This is an excellent outcome showing that Jaguar Land Rover will protect its brand resolutely and will pursue legal action wherever necessary, even against large companies: and this protection will include name, body shape and passing off anything similar,” he added.
Bombardier has also been ordered to pay a small amount in damages and legal costs and must remove the Defender badge from all products including brochures.
The move by Land Rover also means that it is likely to try and prevent chemical firm Ineos, which recently expressed an interest in making a Defender-like model, from launching a vehicle. However, the company claims to have no plans to use the Defender name for its model.
The new Land Rover Defender, which promises to the brand’s most high-tech car yet, is already undergoing testing ahead of going on sale in 2019.
Read more on the upcoming Land Rover Defender
Read our review of the Discovery prototype
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