AIM WAS TO OUST COMPETITION FROM THE FIELD: PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS ABOUT COMPLAINTS IN CONFECTIONERY BUSINESS

Tert
Oct 22 2009
Armenia

Armenian government approved the legislative package to make
amendments to a number of laws on trademarks and geographical
indications. According to Deputy Minister of Economy Vahe Danielyan,
the approval of the package is conditioned by the improvement of the
system of legal protection of trademarks, as well as the necessity
to make intellectual property legislation in line with EU legislation.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated on the legislative package that
the draft law was discussed with the interested parties.

"There are businesses which have problems with this law. European
countries give a clear answer to that issue on how the modern world
regulates these issues," the prime minister said.

"The delegation arrived in Armenia from [the Ukrainian city of]
Kharkov; in particular, the director of one of the known factories
in Kharkov asked for our support so as it can sell its traditional
products, chocolate, various cakes in Armenia. Presently, they aren’t
able to sell them in Armenia, since their competitor registered
the trademarks in Armenia. [The competitor] doesn’t manufacture any
products under the [trademarked] names but the purpose was to oust
the competition from the field. We got similar complaints from our
colleagues from Russia too and if we don’t settle the problems here
they will implement similar measures against our manufacturers,"
the prime minister said.

The deputy minister of economy said that this legislative package
provides solutions to these problems.

"The law clearly protects the rights of manufacturers of world-renowned
brands and the local manufacturers are prohibited from automatically
registering those brands and creating obstacles for importers in
doing business," Danielyan said.

Head of Intellectual Property Agency of Ministry of Economy Armen
Azizyan also referred to the issue.

"Really, there are such problems between Grand Candy and other
companies. But, it seems the Armenian company doesn’t prohibit Russian
companies from importing confectionery, whose trademarks belong to it
[the Armenian company]," he said.

According to Azizyan, Grand Candy was the first to appeal to the
agency and the latter registered the trademarks. "We registered
the trademark and afterwards the Russian Krasni Oktyaber company
appealed to us for registering the trademark, but we refused since
we had already registered them under an Armenian company. If Krasni
Oktyaber manufacturing sweets registered the trademark it could
prohibit Armenian companies to manufacture candies under trademarks
Belochka, Krasnaya Shapochka and other known trademarks," he said.