US EditionOat-based products cannot be sold as 'milk', court rules
The UK Supreme Court unanimously invalidated Oatly's trademark for 'Post Milk Generation,' ruling it fails to clearly describe oat-based products as milk-free, restricting its use on food and drink.
- On Wednesday, five justices of the UK’s highest court ruled the 'Post Milk Generation' trademark invalid, as Dairy UK argued and the court found it does not clearly describe a characteristic of oat-based products.
- The Court of Appeal overturned Oatly's challenge after the IPO declared the trademark invalid in January 2023 and the High Court allowed the challenge in December 2023.
- The High Court ruled the phrase did not market products 'as any particular product, let alone as milk', and `does not clearly describe a characteristic quality of the goods in question`, judges found.
- Following the decision, both the dairy trade body and Oatly issued contrasting statements: Dairy UK argued the trademark failed to show products were milk-free, while Bryan Carroll said Oatly was `deeply disappointed` and called the ruling `a way to stifle competition`.
- Oatly appealed to the UK’s highest court in December last year, which delivered a unanimous ruling this week limiting use of 'milk' in non-dairy branding.
34 Articles
34 Articles
Oatly Banned From Marketing Plant-Based Products As Milk In The UK
Oatly was just banned from marketing its plant-based products as “milk” in the UK. The Swedish oat milk brand has lost its long-running legal dispute over the word following years of lobbying by the dairy sector. Oatly already describes its plant-based milk as a “drink,” but has continued using its “post-milk generation” slogan. Read more: Oatly Launches Workwear Line For Baristas In Partnership With LA Fashion Brand Oatly first attempted to tra…
Nanny state Farage is ranting about what you should call milk
If you’re old enough, you’ll remember the British press constantly moaned about the ‘nanny state’ in the New Labour years. This is the term for when the government interferes in people’s every day business to an unhealthy degree. And as we’ve seen this week, Nigel Farage is going to be the nanny state personified if he becomes PM. First he was going after work-from-home; now he wants to tell you what you can and can’t call oat milk: When I firs…
The term "after-milk generation" was prohibited after the representative of the United Kingdom milk producers has considered the use of the term "milk" in a poultry-based product.
UK Supreme Court: oat milk can't be called milk
In a big win for the local dairy industry, the United Kingdom's Supreme Court today affirmed a law that "milk" refers only to the stuff that comes out of animals. It ruled against the oat milk brand Oatly, effectively banning the marketing of dairy-free alternatives as "milk." — Read the rest The post UK Supreme Court: oat milk can't be called milk appeared first on Boing Boing.
Evening Standard
perspectivemedia.comOat-based products cannot be trademarked as ‘milk’, Supreme Court rules
The Swedish company had been in a legal battle with Dairy UK, the trade association for the UK dairy industry.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
