Commodore is back in the news, but not because of a new retro computer reveal. The long-dormant Commodore International Corporation (CIC) has launched a major trademark challenge against an Italy-based company, Commodore Industries S.r.l., in a dispute that could shape who gets to use the iconic Commodore name across Europe.
On December 13, Commodore International Corporation announced it had initiated legal action arguing that Commodore Industries’ trademark registrations should be declared invalid. The case is being pursued through the European Intellectual Property Office as well as Italian courts, with CIC seeking to cancel the Italian firm’s trademark and related “variant” marks tied to the Commodore brand.
At the heart of the conflict is CIC’s claim that the trademarks granted in 2017 were improperly issued by those overseeing the original brand at the time. Tensions reportedly escalated after the Italy-based company challenged the American firm’s trademark rights, prompting CIC to go on the offensive in an attempt to reassert control over the Commodore identity.
CIC’s legal counsel, John Errico, emphasized that the move wasn’t made impulsively. He said the company believes it has a responsibility to protect Commodore’s legacy and the trust built with fans over decades, stating that preventing unlicensed or unapproved products is essential to keeping the Commodore name from being used in ways that could confuse the community or the broader marketplace. He also noted that the company pursued legal action only after other reasonable efforts to resolve the issue were exhausted, while reiterating appreciation for the devoted Commodore community that has kept the brand’s spirit alive.
This lawsuit also follows what CIC describes as earlier “good faith” outreach aimed at exploring collaboration, including claims that Commodore Industries did not respond to those overtures. Now that the matter has moved into formal legal proceedings, CIC says it will not provide ongoing public commentary about the dispute.
Even so, the company signaled that it still wants to work with creators and manufacturers—just under official licensing. CIC said that parties interested in building officially licensed Commodore products and experiences will be able to start discussions in the coming weeks, when the company launches an official “Licensing Pipeline” tool intended to streamline those conversations.
The timing is especially notable because CIC is currently in the middle of fulfilling pre-orders for the C64 Ultimate, a modern reimagining of the classic Commodore 64. The first shipments—reported to include the BASIC Beige and Starlight Editions—began rolling out toward the end of 2025, putting the brand’s modern revival efforts under a brighter spotlight just as the trademark fight heats up.
For longtime fans, the case isn’t just corporate legal maneuvering—it’s about who gets to define what “Commodore” means in 2025 and beyond, and whether future hardware, software, and retro-inspired releases carry a name that’s protected, consistent, and officially sanctioned.
