Client
Furytech Universe Limited, an international iGaming company headquartered in Cyprus and owner of the BETFURY brand
Type of work
Trademark dispute resolution and settlement negotiations involving similarity claims and opposition proceedings before the EUIPO
Details of matter and your firm’s role in it
Polikarpov Law Firm represented Furytech Universe Limited in a complex trademark conflict with Bitfury IP B.V. concerning the alleged similarity between the client’s “BETFURY” trademark series and Bitfury’s earlier “BITFURY” EU registrations. Bitfury filed oppositions and issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding withdrawal of pending and registered marks, including EUTM Applications Nos. 018895476, 018901121, and 019036574.
The client sought to defend the distinctiveness and continued use of the BETFURY brand—a global blockchain-based gambling ecosystem with over 2.3 million users and $7.6 billion in total betting volume. Our firm prepared a detailed legal and semantic analysis of the trademarks, assessed likelihood of confusion, and drafted a robust response to the cease-and-desist letter. We highlighted key differences in phonetics, visual identity (including the distinctive raccoon mascot), commercial sectors, and target audiences.
The case’s main challenge lay in defending a mark containing the identical suffix “FURY” and a similar short prefix within the highly scrutinized blockchain and gambling industries. Our team needed to rebut claims of conceptual and phonetic similarity while addressing overlapping trademark classes, particularly Class 09, and strategically propose limitations to avoid extended litigation.
The dispute was resolved through a negotiated settlement. Furytech agreed to limit its Class 09 goods to gambling-related items, after which Bitfury withdrew its opposition. The EUIPO confirmed these limitations and proceeded with registering all BETFURY marks. This outcome secured Furytech’s brand presence in the EU while demonstrating the effectiveness of our litigation-avoidance strategy.
Individuals involved
Anton Polikarpov: Managing Partner, lead negotiator and advisor on EU strategy.
Anastasia Shevchuk: Senior Associate, responsible for drafting comparative and legal arguments.
Industry sector/technology
Blockchain-based gambling platforms, iGaming, and crypto entertainment services in the Web3 ecosystem
