Since 1993, Frito-Lay has been marketing TIJGERNOOTJES (TIGERNUTS); a peanut with a crispy shell. As result of the baking process, the outer dough layer is cracked. therefore, the nut has a varied pattern in the colours orange/brown and yellow. The baking process had been patented, but its protection has now expired. In order to protect the unique look and feel of the product, Frito-Lay has also trademarked the packaging and the nut itself. When the Aldi introduces a very similar looking product under the name GIRAF NOOTJES, a lawsuit follows.

Not only the typography of Coca-Cola is world famous, also the white wave against a red background design has a high grade of recognition. These elements are naturally registered as trademarks. When a Chinese importer starts using a similarly shaped logo, Coca-Cola objects. It starts a cancellation procedure against the EU trade mark, regardless the fact that that mark was filed in black/white with the words PanPan. Nonetheless, the cancellation is successful.

Lacoste has registered its crocodile emblem as a device-mark for clothing. Does this give the company a right to ban any use of crocodiles on clothing? The lawsuit that Lacoste filed against Dutch retailer Hema revolves around this question. In spring 2018, Hema launches new gray shirts and underwear with a variety of animal figures, one of which resembling a crocodile. Lacoste demands a ban, claiming the creatures look too much like the Lacoste logo. Hema in its defense claims that this is an adornment and that the general public does not perceive these creatures as a trademark.

restaurants. McDonald's opposes this filing because SUPERMAC'S sounds confusingly like BIG MAC. McDonald's bases its opposition on their 1998 EU-trademark registration. As a counter-measure, Supermac's incites a cancellation action against the Big Mac trademark. The trademark is over five years old and the holder must prove that the trademark has been put to real and effective use for the past five years. McDonald's provides figures claiming Big Mac hamburgers sell over 200 million units per annum, along with screen-prints of websites and tons of advertising material.