Blues for Oxford in brand battle

Oxford University has lost a legal battle over the use of the name of its top sporting award, the Oxford Blue.

The Blue is awarded to Oxford students who compete against Cambridge University in Varsity matches.

The university had claimed a company had tarnished the name by using it as a brand name on a range of clothes.

The ruling means that Birmingham-based HS Tank & Sons Ltd can continue to produce the range, which now sells about 500,000 garments per year.

We are disappointed with the outcome of the case and are reviewing with our legal advisers whether an appeal is appropriate Oxford University

Vic Cogger, chief executive of HS Tank, said the dispute had been triggered by the company's decision to try to register Oxford Blue as a trademark on the continent.

"I think it's absolutely fabulous news," he said.

A spokeswoman for the University of Oxford said: "A company with no connection to Oxford University has been granted rights in a name where the reputation in that name has been built up by the university.

"We are disappointed with the outcome of the case and are reviewing with our legal advisers whether an appeal is appropriate."