Commodore International challenges Italian rival’s trademarks in escalating brand dispute — firm says clarity needed to clear the path for new licensed products

Commodore International Corporation has initiated legal action against Italian start-up Commodore Industries, claiming that a set of Commodore trademarks registered in Europe in 2017 were improperly granted and are invalid as a matter of law. The move marks the latest escalation in a long-running dispute over who controls the storied Commodore brand, which has been decades in the making since the original computer maker's collapse.

In a statement, Commodore International said that the trademark registrations of Commodore Industries were "improperly granted and are invalid as a matter of law." The trademarks held by Commodore Industries cover the Commodore name and associated branding in the EU. The company said it would not comment further while proceedings are ongoing, but confirmed that formal legal steps are now underway.

The dispute follows a series of competing revival efforts that began earlier this year when Commodore International claimed it had acquired a large portfolio of 47 original Commodore trademarks and positioned itself as the legitimate continuation of the brand. Around the same time, Commodore Industries asserted that it already held valid European registrations, including marks incorporating the classic "C=" logo, and moved to block use of the Commodore name by the revived entity in certain jurisdictions.

In a statement published previously, the company also said its trademarks were examined and approved by Italian and European authorities, were not opposed at the time of registration, and have been used continuously. It has been argued that these facts undermine any attempt to retroactively invalidate the marks.

As of the time of writing, it’s not clear what precise legal action Commodore International is taking, just that there’s "a question now before the Italian civil court." The company has not said whether it will pursue invalidation proceedings via the EU Intellectual Property Office, nor which trademark classes are being challenged.

Commodore’s bankruptcy in the 1990s left behind fragmented IP that has changed hands multiple times. This created a breeding ground for precisely what we’re seeing now: modern revival attempts, with competing entities all staking claims in the same IP across different regions.

Commodore International says its legal action is necessary to clear the path for officially licensed products, while Commodore Industries maintains that its registrations remain valid and enforceable. Until there’s a court ruling or other legal mechanism that assigns IP rights, the Commodore brand will remain contested territory.

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