A Russian court cancels Intel's Celeron trademark
The withdrawal of Intel from the Russian market, which began to materialize in 2022, now has a direct and forceful legal consequence. After selling its development center in Nizhny Novgorod, the company faces a court ruling that strips it of rights to one of its historic processor brands in Russian territory. Another chapter in the complex geopolitical scenario for technology. ⚖️
The legal basis of the lawsuit against Intel
The Russian company TS Integratsiya, part of the T1 holding, filed a lawsuit to annul the protection of the trademarks "Celeron" and "Селерон". Their main argument was that Intel did not use these trademarks continuously in Russia after closing its operations and withdrawing. The court accepted this reasoning, ruling that prolonged non-use justifies canceling the registration. This affects the identification of computer equipment, software, and telecommunications services.
Key points of the court ruling:- The registrations of the trademarks Celeron and Селерон are annulled in Russia.
- The decision responds to a lawsuit from the local firm TS Integratsiya.
- The legal reason is the prolonged non-use of the trademarks by Intel in the territory.
The ruling reflects how geopolitical changes and the withdrawal of companies can lead to legal challenges over intellectual property.
Immediate impact and consequences for Intel
The ruling is not symbolic; it has immediate practical effects. Intel loses exclusivity to sell, distribute, or promote any product or service under the Celeron name in Russia. This court decision shows a pattern where a company's physical and commercial absence can be used to revoke its registered intellectual property rights.
Direct consequences of the cancellation:- Intel can no longer exercise exclusive rights over the Celeron trademark in the Russian market.
- The affected product range includes hardware, software, and telecommunications services.
- It opens the door for other companies, possibly local ones, to use the name.
A name in legal limbo
Thus, while globally the name Celeron remains associated with Intel processors for basic or older equipment, in Russia its future is uncertain. It could end up identifying a completely different technological product, perhaps a local development, or simply remain in a legal vacuum where anyone could use it. A paradoxical end for a brand that was synonymous with affordable computing for decades. 💻