Lavoro suffers defeat at INPI

Lavoro Agro Holding S.A. suffered a setback with the National Intellectual Property Institute (INPI) when trying to register the trademark "Fazenda Conectada Lavoro" in class 31. 

The federal authority rejected the request due to a collision with a previous registration belonging to another legal entity. The English version of the expression (Connected Farm Lavoro) was also denied registration.

The legal basis was the impossibility of registering as a trademark "reproduction or imitation, in whole or in part, even with additions, of another registered trademark, to distinguish or certify an identical, similar or related product or service, likely to cause confusion or association with someone else's brand".

The decision was handed down in the first instance. There is an appeal.

Class 31 covers "agricultural, horticultural, forestry products and grains not included in other classes; live animals; fresh fruits, vegetables and greens; natural seeds, plants and flowers; animal feed, malt".