IP Court Upholds Decision for U.S. Toy Manufacturer

In Primorsky Krai, an importer was held administratively liable under Part 1 of Article 14.10 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation for attempting to import toys bearing the designation “TRANSFORM,” which was found confusingly similar to trademark No. 346976 “TRANSFORMERS,” owned by Hasbro, Inc. (U.S.). The importer was fined, and the goods were confiscated. The decision was subsequently upheld on appeal.

Disagreeing with the judicial acts adopted in case No. A51-16802/2025, the importer filed a cassation appeal with the Court for Intellectual Property Rights. The importer argued, among other things, that the lower courts had incorrectly assessed the similarity of the designations and that the imported goods did not create a likelihood of confusion with Hasbro’s trademark. Sojuzpatent lawyers, acting on behalf of Hasbro, Inc., filed an opposition to the cassation appeal, refuting the importer’s arguments.

Hasbro’s representative also participated in the hearing and supported the position that there were no grounds to overturn the lower courts’ decisions. The Court for Intellectual Property Rights dismissed the cassation appeal and upheld the lower courts’ decisions as lawful and well reasoned.