Oatly banned from using word ‘milk’ to label vegan drinks
Oatly loses Supreme Court battle over ‘milk’ trademark
- The UK's Supreme Court has unanimously ruled against Oatly's use of the trademark "Post Milk Generation" for its plant-based products, siding with Dairy UK.
- The long-running legal dispute centred on whether the term "milk" could legitimately be applied to oat-based alternatives.
- The case progressed through several courts, with the Intellectual Property Office initially deeming the trademark invalid, a decision overturned by the High Court and subsequently reinstated by the Court of Appeal.
- A panel of five Supreme Court justices confirmed the trademark's invalidity, saying that it primarily described targeted consumers rather than clearly defining a characteristic quality of the product.
- Oatly expressed deep disappointment with the ruling, arguing it creates an uneven playing field for plant-based products and stifles competition in the market.
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