Land Rover Defender shape 'not iconic enough' to stop Ineos Grenadier in its path

The Ineos Grenadier was found to be quite different from the Land Rover Defender.

Jaguar Land Rover has lost a UK lawsuit that would have stopped development of the Ineos Grenadier.

The British brand is suing Ineos over its apparent imitation of the design of the new Grenadier, which - it doesn't take much imagination to notice - is very similar to the previous Land Rover Defender.

But according to the UK Intellectual Property Office, the Defender's shape simply wasn't distinctive enough to warrant copyright protection.

Reports claim that the judge who oversaw the case stated that expert comparisons would likely be made between the old Defender and the all-new Grenadier, that the same similarities "may be unimportant or even unnoticeable to regular consumers."

Jaguar Land Rover issued a statement saying it was disappointed with the court's decision.

"The Land Rover Defender is an iconic vehicle that is part of Land Rover's past, present and future," the statement said. "Its unique shape is instantly recognizable and symbolizes the Land Rover brand worldwide."

Ineos said in a statement, "...the Defender shape is not a mark of origin for JLR merchandise."

“We continue with our launch plans and are excited to bring The Grenadier to market in 2021.”