Marc Jenni Forced to Rename Watch Brand

Ornatus-Mundi · 2014-11-04T12:29:35Z

AHCI member Marc Jenni is forced to stop using his name for watches due to a trademark dispute with the Jenny family (Doxa). Explore the legal battle and its implications.

Ornatus-Mundi

WPS member · Independents forum

7 replies4441 views3 photos

It was reported yesterday in Quill & Pad, Marc Jenni, one of the most enthusiastic and energetic young members of the A.H.C.I. (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants), will have to cease and desist creating watches that carry his own name, Marc Jenni , as of 01 January 2015. Jenni, altho

Jenni, although he has registered his name as a trade mark with the Swiss authorities already 5 years ago right when he set up his own company. However, the family Jenny, it self a watchmaking family and owners of the 'Doxa' brand, took offence in Marc Jenni's use of his own name and challenged the brand registration.

From the Jenny Watch website:

"JENNY Watches (pronounced 'yen-ny') has a rich history, dating back more than 50 years. Gustav Jenny (1889 - 1983) started out manufacturing, assembling and finishing watches and watch components for established Swiss watch brands. In 1963, his son Paul G. Jenny (1918 - 1978) established JENNY & Cie S.A. in Lengnau / Switzerland, and introduced their first line of dive watches, the JENNY Caribbean, which was soon to become the world's first 1000 meter water resistant dive watch, patented in Switzerland under Brev. 5292/68 Triple safe.

With the desire to create an exceptional diving watch with a high depth rating, the original JENNY Caribbean was conceived and released in 1963. Over the years, the line expanded to include a variety of dial and bezel color options, with the intention of offering a whole range of options to suit all tastes. As quoted in a press release from the 1960s, 'a choice of rotating bezels in matching color shades is offered so that you can purchase a watch best suited to your personality'.

The new JENNY Caribbean 300 combines the aesthetic elements of the original JENNY Caribbean 700, which made the brand so distinctive and sought-after."

Contrast this to the ancestors of Marc Jenni: Extract from J.J Kubly-Müller’s genealogy work “The Jenny Families from the canton of Glarus” from 1929:

"Johann Jakob Jenny, born on December 19, 1753 as the sixth child of Gabriel Jenny and Barbara Trümpy, died on February 23, 1814 as a single without descendants, active as a watchmaker and citizen from Glarus."

As in Swiss brand jurisdiction there is no precedence for such a case, Jenni would have to defend his own name, an endeavour that would likely costs 'more than 100.000 Swiss Franks - with an insecure outcome. Thus, Marc Jenni decided to abandoning using his name and seek a new one - which one is not yet decided.

So, this is (too) soon history:

However, it would not be Marc Jenni if he would not take this issue as a positive challenge as well: “It is indeed a time for a beginning, something new, ‘a new chapter in my history’,” as he is quoted by Quill & Pad.

Marc, I always consider it one of the worst incidents if a famed (and yes, you are already at your young age!!!) watchmaker would loose the right to print is own name on his own watches (think about Daniel Roth, for example).

But knowing you I am sure that this will just push you further on your way, and we are all keeping our fingers crossed - and a thousand thumbs up from our side!

ALL THE BEST

Magnus

P.S.: if not marked otherwise, all images taken by Don Corson!

This message has been edited by MTF on 2014-11-04 17:58:51

The Discussion

MTF

Nov 4, 2014

This is the most amazing news of how the "Law is an Ass". I have never heard of Jenny as a watch brand despite being a collector for many a year and being a moderator on the world's premier horology on-line community. Never have I seen a single Jenny watch until you posted the photo today. They seem to assemble components from different suppliers into (admittedly) colourful watches of no particular distinction. On the other hand, like thousands of watch collectors, we know of the AHCI and Marc J

DonCorson

Nov 5, 2014

Lawyers against any form of reason. I have never heard of nor saw a Jenny watch ever. Marc, I hope you can use this as a spring board to get yourself and your watches even better known. Wishing you the best of luck, Don

Mark in Paris

Nov 5, 2014

I'm sure this is just a "bump" in Marc Jenni's history and it will soon be forgotten. Looking forward discovering the new name :) Mark

pplater

Nov 8, 2014

...when it is the English language (and not the French, or German) which has the absolutely perfect, possibly untranslatable, word for the actions of Jenny watches: that word is "churlish". Power to your elbow, Marc Jenni. Cheers, pplater.

amerix

Nov 10, 2014

it should be a relatively simple matter to deal with an injunction or whatever it is called - cease and desist ? There is no conceivable way that Jenny can be confused with Marc Jenni. None whatsoever ! Paying out an estimated 100,000 Swiss Franks for legal fees, then waiting years for a decision is beyond this particular hmm reality. Or is it? In fact I am suspicious about all involved - and their motives! amerix This message has been edited by amerix on 2014-11-10 12:45:52 This message has bee

lhk1

Nov 23, 2014

Melvyn, I will not touch Jenny watch with 10-feet pole. If they think by eliminating Marc Jenni, they will excel, they are wrong. Intellectual property victory does not equate with haute hologerie success. Regards Ling

Continue the conversation

This thread is active on the Independents forum with 7 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.

Join the Discussion →

Continue the conversation

More from this Forum