There are few disputes more difficult to solve than deciding who owns a trademark after co-owners have a falling out. Family businesses seem particularly susceptible, my guess would be because they are started more casually without formal documents that even contemplate trademark ownership. European trademark blog Class 46 reports one way to solve the problem – an auction. Two brothers argued over who owned the trademark, so the court auctioned it off. It sold for 17.2 million Euro, but the good news is that the brother who bought it only had to pay half, since he already owns half. Class 46 report here.
