Gaming monopoly loses name dispute with treatment centre

Since 2007, Spelkliniken Axept AB has operated a gambling treatment centre in Röstånga under the name Hemska Spel (‘Horrible Game’).

But when Svenska Spel learned of the treatment centre’s similar sounding name, it filed a complaint with the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV) claiming that Hemska Spel could damage the Svenska Spel brand.

But the PRV rejected the appeal, concluding there is no significant risk that the state gambling monopoly and the gambling addict treatment facility would be confused with one another.

While PRV admits there are “certain phonetic and visual similarities”, between the two names, the agency ruled that Svenska Spel’s brand is connected to gaming, while the Hemska Spel brand is associated with medical and health services, thus leaving little chance of a mix up, according to the Helogotland.se news website.