RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – If you look closely you can see a 3-pointed logo on the screen of a high-powered Legion laptop from Lenovo. And Mercedes has taken exception to the similarity of that logo to its own star. Thus a lawsuit.
The international auto giant has filed a trademark lawsuit against Lenovo in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Samples of Legion logos as included in lawsuit by Mercedes Benz.
In the suit Mercedes said it “seeks injunctive and monetary relief for trademark infringement, dilution, and unfair competition.”
Mercedes seeks: “Entry of a judgment against Defendant for monetary damages in an amount to be proven at trial, including but not limited to, Defendant’s profits or gains of any kind resulting from Defendant’s willful infringement, and/or acts of unfair competition, and any damages Plaintiff suffered as a result of Defendant’s actions.”
The suit was launched Tuesday, according to Bloomberg news. It is filled with photos and examples of Mercedes’ logo use as well as photos of Legend related items from Lenovo.
“The Legion Logo, as used in association with the products that Defendant has and is offering for sale, selling, advertising, and/or distributing in the United States, is confusingly similar to the Mercedes-Benz Marks,” the suit notes.
Mercedes says it raised concerns about the logo and Legion brand in correspondence with Lenovo dating to 2021.
The disputed 3-point logo can be seen in this Lenovo photo of a Legion laptop.
“Defendant has and is willfully infringing upon Plaintiff’s rights in the MercedesBenz Marks by advertising, offering for sale, selling, and/or distributing products in connection with the Legion Logo, and/or by intentionally inducing such acts by others,” Mercedes says in the suit.
The Legion lineup is one of the most powerful – and pricey – in Lenovo’s extensive lineup. Lenovo is the world’s top seller of PCs.
“Defendant has profited and continues to profit from its unlawful acts,” Mercedes says and adds: “Defendants’ conduct as alleged herein has been willful.”
Recently, Lenovo dropped a lineup of Legion smartphones that targeted gamers.
Just last month, Lenovo was ordered to pay US patent holder InterDigital a $138.7 million lump sum to settle a years-long dispute over licensing.
Interestingly, in August 2022 Lenovo made “Framework redesign its 3D-printable motherboard case,” reported Arstechnica.
