BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
A long-running court battle over the Pro-Lite name has concluded in favour of BMX City of Grantham, Lincolnshire.
BMX City (known previously as Cycle Sport Ltd) has been selling Pro-Lite products in the UK since 1989, while Stephen Fenton registered the Pro-Lite name by 2005. BMX City applied to the Intellectual Property Office in 2006 to regain ownership, which ended in a lengthy court battle.
The case concluded in December 2010 with the invalidation of Fenton’s trademark. The decision was appealed, but that appeal was then withdrawn.
With the assistance of Peter Brownlow of Bird and Bird solicitors, ownership of the Pro-Lite name was regained by BMX City and now the company is writing to all companies – retailers and distributors – selling Pro-Lite products not purchased from them.
The registered trademark (class 12) applies to bicycle parts and accessories, namely lite pegs, stealth hubs, forks, stems, handlebars, chainrings, crans, pedals, seats, rims, spokes, hubs, axles and bearings.
