STOCKHOLM—A trademark dispute has erupted in northern Europe over who invented the Nordic model -- generally understood as a social system blending a market economy with a robust welfare state.

An umbrella group for the region's left-leaning Social Democratic parties successfully registered the trademark in Sweden in December.

Now the Nordic Council, a regional body with representatives from all Nordic parliaments, has filed a protest with the Swedish Patent and Registration Office.

In the complaint filed last week, Secretary-General Jan-Erik Enestam said the term Nordic model cannot be seen as "belonging to any particular political group."

Inger Segelstrom, who heads the Social Democratic group, said Tuesday it applied for the trademark after a discussion in Sweden about the political heritage of the welfare model used in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland.

Though center-right parties across the region have embraced the system -- adding their own tweaks -- "research, discussions and articles in the media have concluded that the Nordic model is tied to the labor movement," Segelstrom said.

The Swedish patent office will now review the complaint and give the Social Democrats the opportunity to respond, said Gustav Melander, senior legal officer at the agency. It will then decide whether to revoke its decision.

(Source: boston.com)