MOSCOW, December 7 - RAPSI. The Moscow Commercial Court has prematurely ceased the legal protection of the Signature trademark, which up to this date belonged to entrepreneur Igor Sergiyenko, under the lawsuit filed by Visa International Service Association, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com).

The court has ceased the brand protection because the brand was not in use.

During the trial, Sergiyenko's representative said that the entrepreneur did not use the trademark and that he was ready to give up the brand to Visa.

The defendant's representative said that Visa would not agree on an amicable settlement, believing that the dispute could only be settled in court.

The Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks was involved in the case as a third party.

Visa was seeking to terminate the legal protection of the trademark of the 36th class of the International Classification of Goods and Services, which includes services such as insurance, financial activity, monetary operations and property transactions.

Visa is a global payment system providing access to electronic payments network to holders of cards, trade and service enterprises, financial and governmental institutions in over 200 countries.