VOLVO Prevailed in Trademark Opposition Against “VOLOCO” Trademark

On July 24, 2025, Taiwan’s IP Office (“TIPO”) ruled in the favor of auto giant Volvo, finding the contested trademark “VOLOCO” should be cancelled due to a likelihood of confusion with Volvo’s iconic brand “VOLVO” (Reg. No. 00111931, see below).

The contested trademark, “VOLOCO” (Reg. No. 02405141, see below), was filed on March 15, 2024, and granted on October 1, 2024, designated for use in goods in Class 12, including automobiles, components of automobiles, motorcycles, and components of motorcycles. Volvo filed opposition on December 30, 2024, citing violations of Articles 30.1.10, 30.1.11, and 30.1.12 of Trademark Act.

TIPO sided with Volvo based on Article 30.1.10, reasoning that:

1.    On trademark similarity, the contested trademark “VOLOCO” and Volvo’s “VOLVO” both start with “VOL” and end with “O”, which makes the two trademarks visually and verbally similar to each other.

2.    On the designated products, TIPO noted that Volvo’s “VOLVO” also covered “automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, and the relevant components”, which resemble those designated by the contested trademark.

3.    Further, based on TIPO’s and Court’s prior decisions, and the evidence of continuous media coverage, including the webpages introducing Volvo’s vehicles throughout the period of 2010 and 2024, “VOLVO” as a trademark was highly distinctive and has established strong brand recognition in the auto industry. Therefore, consumers should be more familiar with “VOLVO”.

4.    In view of the above, given the similarity between the two trademarks, the overlap of product categories, and “VOLVO”’s high distinctiveness and strong brand recognition, TIPO concluded that the registration of “VOLOVO” would create confusion with “VOLVO” among the relevant consumers. Hence, registration of “VOLOCO” was cancelled accordingly.

 

Source: https://cloud.tipo.gov.tw/S282/S282WV1/#/written-result-details/disposition?issueKey=doNRI%2BOnAs4XrPujCqRo2xVknAPqty39JR8F