The American Johnson & Johnson decided to sue the Helix brand of the Russian laboratory network

Johnson & Johnson asks the court to early end the legal protection of the Helix trademark in Russia in relation to all products in classes 5 and 10 of the International Product Classification due to alleged lack of use. The American company is going to register the Helix trademark in Russia, as can be seen from court documents.

The court left the case pending until October 21, requiring the American company to provide documents legalized in Russia regarding its location and registration as a legal entity.

• The rights of the laboratory service to the Helix brand of the same name are valid until May 13, 2034 inclusive.
• MCGS class 5 includes adhesive dressings, tooth filling materials, medical dressing materials, surgical dressing materials, dressings, dressing materials and MCGS class 10 is medical equipment.

The parties did not respond to RB.RU’s request.

In September, Johnson & Johnson announced that it was strengthening its medical technology business unit, including its partners in Russia and the CIS countries.

“The company’s partners and customers in Russia and the CIS countries will see changes to marketing and other communications on behalf of the company in the near future,” the company said in a statement.

After the start of the military operation, the manufacturer Johnson & Johnson announced the suspension of supplies of personal care products to Russia, but intended to continue exporting medicines and medical equipment. The company reported that in early March 2022 it suspended all advertising, clinical trial registrations and any additional investments in Russia, and provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

The founder of the Isibrand patent office, patent attorney number 2104, Olga Bondareva, believes that Johnson & Johnson can obtain a trademark if it proves that it plans to launch the production of products under it in Russia and that certain actions have already been taken to it. .

It is still known that in 2022 the company announced that it would limit its activities in Russia, so it is unlikely that it will meet this condition, the expert believes.

“Perhaps the company is launching a new line of products under this brand and wants to immediately secure its rights in all the countries in which it is present, at least hypothetically,” the expert believes. Bondareva adds that a similar practice exists abroad, since the legal risks are very high, companies and entrepreneurs register their trademark immediately before sales begin.

• Helix’s net profit in 2023 amounted to 512.7 million rubles, and revenue to 12.5 billion rubles. According to Interfax, in 2024 the service was going to open 100 new points in Russia. As of the end of June, the network included 800 diagnostic centers in 250 cities in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
• According to Kontur.Focus, the final beneficiaries of Helix are Yuri Andreychuk, Saina Otorbaeva and Daria Goryakina.