Philippine Supreme Court Rejects Similar 'W' Logo Trademark Registrations

In a decision dated January 28, 2026 and publicly released around June 1, 2026, the Philippine Supreme Court granted consolidated petitions by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, LLC and reversed Court of Appeals rulings that had permitted registration of marks by Oceanic Empire Limited.

The court held that Oceanic's applications for 'W TOWER' and related logos for hotel and entertainment services were confusingly similar to Starwood's registered 'W' trademarks. The ruling emphasizes that visual and design similarities in logos can preclude registration even when additional words are present.

The decision underscores the strict application of likelihood-of-confusion standards in trademark examinations and oppositions involving stylized marks.

Sources: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PRESS-RELEASE-SC-Rejects-Trademark-Registration-for-Similar-W-Logos.pdf https://www.marques.org/class46/