Status: opposed
Just in:
[Source: the UK Intellectual Property Office's website - posted May 5, 2026]
For those still interested in the Gallo'way business shenanigans, this is the current status of the Galloway Spirits word trademark application to His Majesty's Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
And this is, in a nutshell, the official timeline of the case:
A preliminary procedure, the Notice of Threatened Opposition, has been launched by the, as of yet, unofficially designated Opponent on March 9, 2026, just a bit over a month after the publication of the application in the UK Trade Marks Journal:
[Source: https://www.ipo.gov.uk/t-tmj/tm-journals/2026-006/index.html]
The above publication, on February 6, 2026, opened a two months legal delay for the preliminary opposition document (the TM7a form) to be sent, extending the delay for sending the formal opposition document by one extra month. Which is to say, until May 6, 2026.
One day before this extended delay expired, on May 5, 2026 (yesterday), the application was opposed by way of a TM7G form, stating various grounds for opposition, such as homonymy, earlier rights or earlier mark conflict, etc.
Now, where did we already see this happening, before?
Oh, that's right:
[Source: https://www.tumblr.com/sgiandubh/811712190640013312/first-they-laugh-then-they-copy?source=share - posted March 21, 2026]
I could be wrong, but I would be very surprised to be so, in assuming this new opposition to the trademark registration on the UK market was filed by the same old, same old nemesis: E&J Gallo Winery.
What is next?
Depending on what the opponent requested, there might be a seven to sixteen months cooling period granted, for the two parties to settle this out of court (which, in this case, is also HM's IPO). Failure to do so and if no cooling period is decided upon, both parties must submit their own arguments for the case to either be heard or decided upon (based on the papers submitted) by the IPO, acting as a Tribunal.
Pretty much standard, pretty much tedious, costly and risky.
Oh, the irony of this news hitting our screens the very next day after the pompous and inexplicable launch of the 'Nach Spirits - Special Edition, in Germany.
I am still scratching my head as to how they did it, and while the intent is obvious (slash the Sasse contentious letters), I couldn't for the life of me find another application for that pesky 'Nach, at the EUIPO.
But again, I could be wrong and stand corrected.
PS: with many thanks to my informer. You know who you are.
