DOUGHNUT A TRADEMARK IN SPAIN

SPAIN – A Spanish court has ruled that DOUGHNUT, DONUT and DONUTS are the legally owned trademark of food producer Panrico. Panrico brought its case against rival Yaya Maria in a Spanish court, arguing that Yaya had infringed its trademark using the word DOUGHNUT on its packaging. The court ruled that since none of the marks in questions appeared in the dictionary of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, they were distinctive terms and hence legitimate trademarks. Yaya Maria has been ordered to stop using the term as well as to pay Panrico €33,700 plus all court fees.