LONDON (AFP) - Two dentists were smiling Thursday, January 3rd after trade watchdogs rejected a bid by fashion giant Lacoste to prevent them using a crocodile similar to its own logo as their company symbol.

The Lacoste logo - Photo : Jean Pierre Muller/AFP

The French clothing giant brought legal action claiming that the grinning reptile used by The Dental Practice in Cheltenham, western England, was too much like its globally-recognized green croc.

But the UK Intellectual Property Office this week dismissed the claim that the emblem chosen by dentists Tim Rumney and Simon Moore could confuse shoppers and potentially harm Lacoste's business.

"We are happy the situation has been resolved but astonished by the length of time it took to reach this conclusion," said the pair, who triggered Lacoste's ire when they tried to register their symbol in 2004.

"We do not consider ourselves to be in the same market place at all and do not see that we are treading on any toes. We chose the sign with little second thought," added Rumney.

Lacoste was ordered to pay 1,450 pounds towards the dental practice's legal costs.