Picasso family complaint against DaimlerChrysler unheard

DaimlerChrysler AG managed to defend its trademarkat in a tussle with the heirs of Pablo Picasso in the European Union's high court.

A senior legal adviser to the European Court of Justice ruled against the claim by descendants of the Spanish artist who argued that the "Picaro" trademark registered by the automaker was too close to the Picasso name.

The Picasso family launched their case at the Luxembourg-based court against the EU's trademark office, which granted DaimlerChrysler use of the Picaro label in 2002.

Picasso's heirs own the trademark "Picasso" in the vehicles category, which they have licensed to French automaker PSA Peugeot-Citroen.

Advocate General Damaso Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer rejected the family's argument that DaimlerChrysler's use of Picaro infringes EU rules stating that trademarks must avoid confusion for consumers.

A lower EU court already rejected the Picasso family's complaint in last year, prompting the heirs to lodge an appeal at the high court, the AP reports.