FAS HAS PROTECTED THE OSTANKINO SCHOOL FROM AN UNFAIR COMPETITOR

The competing company violated the exclusive rights of the organization to the name and trademark

FAS Russia has received an application from Autonomous Non-profit Organization of Additional Professional Education "Higher School of Cinema and Television Ostankino" ("Ostankino School") about the violation of antimonopoly legislation by Ostankino Media School LLC.

Both companies implement additional professional education programs in the field of cinema, television and media – that is, they are competitors.

In accordance with the agreement registered by Rospatent, Ostankino School owns the exclusive right to the combined trademark.

Ostankino Media School was originally registered as TV Technologies LLC, but in 2020 it changed its brand name, which became similar to the name of a competitor. Thus, the actions of the Ostankino Media School were aimed at mixing in the minds of consumers with the Ostankino School, which invests heavily in promotion and is in the first lines of search engine results.

The Commission of FAS Russia recognized the actions of Ostankino Media School LLC as an act of unfair competition. FAS Russia issued remedies to the company to stop using the competitor's brand name and trademark, and imposed a fine of 300 thousand rubles. [1]

The company did not comply with the remedies within the prescribed period, therefore, a new administrative case was initiated against it and another one fine was imposed.

For reference:

[1] Article 14.4 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition".