On January 19, 2012, Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court
(SAC) upheld Bulgarian Patent Office's (BPO) decision to cancel
the registration of the industrial design 'Lighter', owned
by AXXON
Bulgaria, a Sofia-based company specialized in the marketing,
distribution, and logistics of fast moving consumer goods.
According to the BPO, the design did not fulfill the novelty and
originality requirements, as it did not differ substantially from
the well-known lighter registered as an international
three-dimensional trademark by Societe Bic, a disposable product
maker based in France.
AXXON Bulgaria filed an appeal at the Sofia City Court (SCC),
which overruled BPO's decision after several experts concluded
that the AXXON Bulgaria's design was substantially different
from Societe Bic's design.
