Asian Advertising Festival (Spikes) Asia Pte Ltd v International Awards Group LLC

This matter concerned an application by Asian Advertising Festival (Spikes) Asia Pte Ltd for an extension of time to file a notice of opposition to a trade mark application by International Awards Group LLC. The hearing officer, Iain Thompson, presided over the Trade Marks Hearings.

The primary legal issue before the hearing officer was whether to grant the applicant's request for an extension of time to file its notice of opposition. This required the hearing officer to consider the grounds presented in support of the application and to balance the competing interests of the parties.

In reaching his decision, the hearing officer was satisfied that the grounds advanced by the applicant for the extension of time were sufficient. He applied the principle that costs may follow the event, and accordingly, awarded costs against the owner of the trade mark application.