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September 23, 2012

Volkswagen drops appeal in 'GTi' dispute with Suzuki

FRANKFURT: Volkswagen has dropped its appeal of a court ruling in a brand infringement case against estranged partner Suzuki, a spokesman for the German carmaker said on Saturday, confirming an earlier report.


In 2004, Volkswagen contested an application granted to SuzukiBSE 2.37 % allowing the Japanese company to use the vehicle nameplate " SWIFT GTi" as a trademark for a derivative of its small car.

The General Court of the European Union said in March that the Suzuki version could not be confused with its own high-performance Golf GTI, which it had trademarked in Germany and other international markets.

The ruling came when the two companies were embroiled in a separate arbitration battle over whether Volkswagen may be forced to divest its near-20 per cent stake in Suzuki, bought for 1.7 billion euros ($2.2 billion) as part of a broad alliance agreed more than two years ago.

German daily Die Welt earlier said Volkswagen had dropped its appeal several weeks ago already.

indiatimes.com

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