Deestone to keep its name despite Bridgestone brand dispute

On 3 April the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) said Thai tyre maker Deestone can retain its brand name despite opposition from Bridgestone, which owns both the Bridgestone and Firestone tyre brands.

The decision follows Bridgestone’s application under the Singapore Trade Marks Act relating to Deestone’s use of what Bridgestone claimed constitutes its family of “stone” marks. Deestone, incorporated in Thailand in 1978, had applied to trademark its Deestone brand on 3 February 2015.

The family of marks doctrine provides that where another party also applies for registration of a mark incorporating common characteristic of that family, the public may  ssume that the new mark is an addition to the family of marks, and be confused or deceived if that is not the case.