Decision near in retail trademark fight

The trademark dispute between Estonian retailer Saastumarket and the German discount retailer Lidl is heating up.

The German business magazine Lebensmittel Zeitung wrote last week that the Estonian retailer has little chance of winning the case, which was filed last May.

Saastumarket, owned by the Finnish retailer Kesko, uses a logo very similar to the German retailer, which plans to open a string of stores in Estonia in the near future.

The Estonian firm filed a complaint with the Estonian Patent Office and a decision in its favor could thwart Lidl's plans, the Estonian business newspaper Aripaev reported.

Lidl has already begun recruiting employees for the stores, according to Aripaev.

Saatumarket officials argue that they registered their trademark in 1998, while Lidl's logo was registered in Estonia in February.

An Estonian patent expert interviewed by Aripaev said Saastumarket's case was strong because its logo was well known in the country and Lidl did not protest when it was registered.

A decision in the case is expected later this fall.