SAKHA AND ARMEN HOVIK COMPANIES FINED FOR USING TRADE MARKS OF NESCAFE AND PELE
Noyan Tapan
May 23 2007
YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The studies conducted by the RA State
Commission on Protection of Economic Competition on the Armenian
consumer market showed that Sakha company produces and sells "Gold
Coffee", whose packet also has a Nescafe trade mark on it. This was
stated at the May 23 sitting of the commission.
It was noted that the Nescafe trade mark is registered under the name
of Societe des Produits Nestle S. A. company by the RA Intellectual
Property Agency. Armen Hovik company put a Pele trade mark on the
label of its production – Sakafe coffee, although Pele trade mark is
registered under the name of Companhia Cacique de Cafe Soluvel company.
According to the commission, the use of Nescafe and Pele trade marks by
Sakha company and Armen Hovik company respectively (without permission
of their owners) is a violation of the law on economic competition
because these trade marks may mislead consumers. Both companies were
fined by the commission in the amount of 100 thousand drams each. They
were told to withdraw the indicated goods from the market and to stop
their production. The companies were warned that they will be fined
in the amount of a million drams each if these goods are found in
the market again in a month.