Mercedes-Benz, a renowned luxury automotive brand, boasts a rich history that traces its roots back to the late 19th century. The company's origins can be traced to the collaboration between Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, who independently developed the first gasoline-powered automobiles in the 1880s. The first trademark registered by Mercedes-Benz was for its iconic three-pointed star logo. The trademark was filed on February 2, 1925, by the German automaker Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), which later merged with Benz & Cie. to form Mercedes-Benz in 1926. The three-pointed star represents the company's commitment to producing vehicles for land, sea, and air transportation.
In recent years, Mercedes-Benz has demonstrated a vigilant stance in monitoring and protecting its trademarks. The company has been actively involved in legal actions against entities that infringe upon its intellectual property. In 2019, Mercedes-Benz filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the Chinese automaker Geely over the use of the letter "B" for its new brand, Lynk & Co. Mercedes-Benz argued that the "B" logo used by Lynk & Co resembled its own trademarked three-pointed star logo too closely, causing confusion among consumers. The dispute highlighted the importance automakers place on protecting their brand identities, especially in a global market.