Samsung Electronics has won a temporary injunction against Chinese appliance-maker TCL in Germany, barring TCL from using the contested TV brand name in the European Union.

Samsung filed an injunction lawsuit in November against TCL’s German subsidiary at the Dusseldorf Regional Court, alleging that TCL’s Nxtframe infringes on the trademark of Samsung’s The Frame TV, according to sources.

The court ruled in Samsung’s favor on Feb. 26, following an oral hearing on Jan. 29, where it found a likelihood of confusion between the TVs from Samsung and TCL, according to Hoyng Rokh Monegier and Rospatt, the intellectual property law firms representing Samsung.

“Under the Dusseldorf Court’s judgement, TCL is prohibited from using the sign NXTFRAME in the course of trade with televisions within the European Union, whether directly or through third parties. In particular, TCL is prohibited from offering or distributing televisions under this sign,” the law firms stated.

The case involved TCL’s TV brand Nxtframe, which was first unveiled at the IFA 2024, Europe’s largest home appliance trade show, in Berlin in September.

Samsung released The Frame in 2017, a lifestyle TV designed to display artworks and photos when the screen is off. With a picture-frame-style bezel, the TV is designed to look like a framed piece of art that can be hung on the wall. Observers noted that TCL’s Nxtframe shares a similar design and concept.

As a result of the court ruling, TCL can no longer use the Nxtframe name in Europe. In response to the ruling TCL’s sales websites in the EU have changed the name of the Nxtframe model to A300.

But on other countries' websites, including in the US, TCL is still marketing the TV series as Nxtframe.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)