Sportingbet vs. Sportbet: Entain Loses Trademark Dispute

Gambling holding Entain filed a complaint with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) seeking to block Italian gaming company Sportbet SRL from registering the trademark “Sportbet” within the EU, according to Next.io.

Entain’s complaint was based on the protection of one of its own brands — Sportingbet, an operator that offers betting services in several EU countries, including Malta, Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal, and Romania. The company argued that the names “Sportingbet” and “Sportbet” are too similar and could cause confusion among consumers.

However, EUIPO disagreed with Entain’s arguments. The agency emphasized that the terms “Sport” and “Bet” are generic and descriptive in the gambling industry, and therefore not distinctive enough to grant Entain exclusive rights.

The regulator also noted that the similarity between the two trademarks is too weak to create a likelihood of confusion, even though both brands operate in the same sector.

As a result, Entain’s complaint was fully dismissed. The company has also been ordered to pay €300 in legal costs to the Italian competitor.