Louis Vuitton vs LV Bespoke trademark decision imminent

In July this year, L V Bespoke – a small family business based in Reepham which sells handmade home and garden products – was taken to a tribunal hearing by the world’s most valuable luxury brand, Louis Vuitton.

The fashion powerhouse, which owns the famous Louis Vuitton interlocking L and V trademark, opposed owners Lawrence and Victoria Osborne’s application to register their company name, L V Bespoke, as a UK trademark.

READ MORE: Louis Vuitton takes family-run business to court in trademark row

Owners of L V Bespoke Lawrence and Victoria Osborne and their son Lochlan (Image: Denise Bradley)

Louis Vuitton claimed the use of the ‘L V’ initials could cause the public to make a mental link to their own brand, allowing L V Bespoke – which the Osborne family run from their home workshop – to gain an unfair advantage.

The firm also claimed this could dilute the distinctiveness of the Louis Vuitton brand and risk damaging its reputation.

Now, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has said a decision on the tribunal hearing is likely to be made in November.

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Louis Vuitton's headquarters in Paris (Image: Hkorich, wiki)

“Hopefully it’s not long now,” Mrs Osborne, who started L V Bespoke with her husband during the pandemic, said.

“It’s been an agonising wait. We’re praying that common sense prevails and we can move forward with our business.

“It feels like we have been on hold for far too long now.”

L V Bespoke's trademark application relates to metal plant supports - something Louis Vuitton claimed falls into a category it owns exclusive rights to under its registered trademark, which includes common metals and their alloys, and metal components for leatherware.

This relates to closure systems, plates, locks, padlocks, handles, buckles and button handles.