Effective Trademark Protection: Successful Opposition to the “MEMBERS ONLY” Application As part of our firm’s trademark monitoring process, the Intellectual Property Department of Triana, Uribe & Michelsen identified the filing of the trademark MEMBERS ONLY, submitted by JR Apparel World LLC to cover clothing, footwear, and headwear in Class 25. Following a thorough analysis, our client Rodríguez Franco y Cía. S.C.S. – Organización Nacional de Comercio Only decided to oppose the application based on its prior registration of the ONLY trademark. The opposition was grounded on the complete reproduction of the core sign, as the addition of the English word MEMBERS did not sufficiently alter the perception of similarity; instead, it evoked in consumers the idea of a membership or direct association with ONLY stores. The Superintendence of Industry and Commerce upheld our arguments and rejected the registration of MEMBERS ONLY, thereby safeguarding our client’s trademark rights and preserving its distinctive market position. This outcome reinforces our firm’s commitment to the strategic protection of distinctive signs and the legal defense of our clients’ intangible assets.
