Cyprus’ final attempt of retaining the trademark for halloumi cheese in the UK went in vain after a British court refused to hear Cypriot authorities appeal in the case. The decision was given by UK’s High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts (Chancery Division) who dismissed the appeal submitted by the Cypriot government. The Cypriot government was seeking the reversal of a previous ruling that cost them the trademark in the first place.
The Cyprus ministry of commerce had filed an appeal on December 19th, 2018 challenging the court’s decision that dismissed its objection against the cancellation of halloumi cheese trademark in the UK. The trademark for halloumi cheese was canceled earlier by UK’s Intellectual Property Office (Ukipo). Cyprus government’s failure to retain the trademark is being attributed to their carelessness with Minister of Commerce Yiorgos Lakkotrypis stating that the delayed response to litigations filed by companies cost Cyprus the trademark.
The cancellation of the trademark comes as a big setback for the Cyprus government as sales of halloumi cheese in the UK were anticipated to grow in the foreseeable future.
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