German logistics hardware and software provider Identytec has filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen, alleging that the automotive giant infringed its trademark rights with the use of the ‘ID’ element in its electric vehicle series.
Identytec, which has been using the acronym “ID.” in various forms for over 15 years, claims that Volkswagen, a former customer, was aware of its trademark series with the initial element “ID.” The company registered a large number of trademarks with this element starting in March 2013, including names like ID.CONNECTOR, ID.SHELF, and ID.TAG.
“We were all the more surprised when, in 2020, Volkswagen began to call the new series for electric cars “ID.” and extended this to various vehicle components and the associated technology,” Identytec said in a press release.
Volkswagen had filed trademark applications for the “ID.” element in November 2017, four and a half years after Identytec’s first trademark application.
“It is a kind of counterattack: in September 2019, Volkswagen filed an opposition against three of the Identytec brands with the Patent and Trademark Office. In the subsequent discussions, VW representatives admitted that they had made a mistake because the Identytec brands are older than those of VW,” the press release added.
Identytec stated that its attempts to reach an agreement with Volkswagen were unsuccessful, leading to the decision to take legal action. Volkswagen, however, expressed regret over the legal dispute, stating that it had approached the former supplier and plaintiff several times in advance in a constructive manner.
The conflict between the two companies underscores the growing legal challenges in the automotive industry over naming rights for electric cars. A date for an oral hearing in Hamburg, where the lawsuit was filed, has not yet been set.