Rover in Cooper action

THE INDEPENDENT

ROVER GROUP is suing Innocenti Cooper Cars Ltd of Bexley, Kent, and a director of the same company, Michael Fernando, over use of the famous "Mini Cooper" name.

Back in the `sixties the Italian firm Innocenti built a luxury version of the Rover Mini under license in Turin for the Italian market. Now Rover Group is trying to prevent a separate UK company, Innocenti Cooper Cars, from "passing off" cars under Rover group registered trade marks. Rover is also seeking an injunction to stop the company from using the names "Mini Cooper," "Innocenti Mini Cooper", or "Innocenti Cooper."

Rover's writ, issued in the High Court last Monday, also demands that the defendants should disclose on Oath the number of cars in their possession which would come under the terms of the injunction, and the amount of money received as a result of their trade in such cars.

Rover has retained solicitors Martineau Johnson to pursue the case.