A clear decision on why Lacoste (the clothing brand) has no rights to oppose two dentists in Cheltenham from using the image of a crocodile along with the words: The Dental Practice in describing their business. Lacoste had claimed it owned the rights in the crocodile image.
Doctors Moore and Rumney started using the logo in 1991 and applied for the trade mark in class 44 (dentistry services) in 2004. La Chemise Lacoste (known as "Lacoste") opposed their use of the crocodile picture. The Trade Mark Registrar found against Lacoste on all grounds and even ordered the sports clothing manufacturer to pay the dentists' costs.
Worth noting that the dentists didn't bother instructing lawyers. Presumably they thought they had nothing to lose.
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