Gerrard gear gets all clear in legal fight
RANGERS manager Steven Gerrard has won a legal battle with two sportswear firms who tried to block his clothing range.
The Ibrox boss launched his collection in 2018 called SGG Apparel which features shirts, jackets and tops. The range is a partnership between Gerrard and former club Liverpool and he signed up for it while coaching there before his move to Glasgow.
However, the project hit a snag when the Merseyside club applied to register SGG Apparel as a trademark in the UK.
Lotto Sport and Errea Sport both objected, saying that the diamond logo used on the Gerrard outfits was too similar to their own.
Lawyers for the sports clothing firms, who are both based in Italy, claimed customers could confuse the products.
Following a two-year battle, the cases have now been decided by the UK Intellectual Property Office. Rejecting Lotto Sport’s objection, trademark hearing officer George Salthouse said: “To my mind, the average consumer will view the opponent’s mark as comprising of two interlocking/ overlapping rectangles with a rectangular hole in the middle. In contrast the applicant’s mark would be seen as two overlapping/ interlocking diamonds.
“Both are relatively simple devices and both are distinctly different. The contention that both would be seen as a figure ‘8’ is I believe somewhat far-fetched.”
Salthouse also ruled the diamond logo of Errea Sport was “significantly different” from the one used by SGG Apparel.
Errea Sport were ordered to pay £1800 towards Liverpool’s costs in the case while Lotto Sport were told to pay £3200.
SGG Apparel features the initials of Gerrard, whose middle name is George.