Entain loses EU trademark battle as the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) rules "Sport" and "Bet" are too generic to block its Italian rival Sportbet’s...
Malta court rejects Entain’s Sportingwin ban revival
The First Hall of the Civil Court in Valletta, Malta, ruled on July 9 that Entain’s attempt to reinstate a ban on Sportingwin was legally flawed.
Entain requested the court to bring back a June 2024 order that blocked SB Entertainment from using the Sportingwin name and logos. Entain argues that it resembles its Sportingbet brand.
Judge Ian Spiteri Bailey said that Entain’s bid was “irregular and null and void,” so the court would take no further notice of it.
The ruling was lifted in October 2024, when a different presiding court revealed that both sides held valid EU trade marks. It also outlined the limits of Malta’s fast-track IP rules, known as Cap 488, which the judge described as a “lex specialis” that must be followed strictly in trademark rows.
Entain filed that the Sportingwin brand “infringes and will continue to irreparably infringe” Sportingbet’s earlier marks as it confuses the consumers.
The judge stressed that “the determination of the merits still remains” and insisted that both parties pursue the substantive trademark fight instead of procedural fights.
Entain can still try to cancel Sportingwin’s EU mark in proceedings already open at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), but that could take years to conclude.
Previously, Entain lost an EUIPO trademark dispute over the Italian operator Sportbet.
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