The Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reports a recent decision of the District Administrative Court in Warsaw act signature VI SA/Wa 2284/08 regarding HERITAGE trade mark.

In 1990 Zygmunt Piotrowski, well-know Polish graphic artist, created the logotype that depicted the porch with columns and attic finial of the Penderecki's house in Luslawice with "heritage" inscription underneath. It was created for the Heritage Promotion of Music and Art company, whose founders were Elzbieta Penderecka and Janusz Pietkiewicz, later the director of the Polish National Opera. The logotype was adopted by the Heritage Films company that was founded in 1991 by Janusz Pietkiewicz and Lech Rywin after the withdrawal of Elzbieta Penderecka from Heritage Promotion of Music and Art company.

At the request of Heritage Films, the Polish Patent Office in its decision of 27 June 2001, act signature Sp. 3/97 invalidated Heritage trade mark R-87806 belonging to the Piotrowski's company. The Supreme Administrative Court in its decision of 14 December 2001, act signature II SA 3446/01, confirmed the decision of the PPO, and dismissed the complaint. The SAC clearly stated that the English word “heritage” is not a generic term for the services it was registered for, nor does it inform about its properties, quality or usefulness. Therefore "heritage" word can be used as a trade mark. It is not widely known or used in the market in order to identify such services as impresario and management consultancy services, the recruitment and placement of people for work for orchestra, soloists and artists of various disciplines of art. However the court held the the company name could be an obstacle to grant the rights of protection for a trade mark. It was unclear for the SAC why the PPO's decision lacks the explanation as to why the picture of the porch with the HERITAGE inscription makes the right to the company name (which was existing from 1991) impossible to be applicable as grounds for the invalidation. If the reason would be the recognition of HERITAGE word to be protected by copyright law as the title, it should be better clarified. It was more necessary for the Court because the title could benefit from the copyright protection "only in very exceptional circumstances".

The case went back to the PPO. On 17 April 2002 the Polish Patent Office invalidated of the right of protection of HERITAGE trade mark R-87806. One more time Mr Piotrowski filed a complaint before the Supreme Administrative Court. The SAC in its judgment of 12 March 2003, act signature II SA 1867/02, provided one may think very obvious holding.

In accordance with the general rules, in the event of a collision between company name (the firm) and trade mark that has been registered with the "later precedence", the priority shall be given to the right that existed earlier.