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Find out moreThis special edition of Law Update, marking Al Tamimi & Company’s 35th anniversary, explores the evolving legal landscape of energy and climate law across the region.
As the Middle East prioritises sustainable growth, this edition examines key developments shaping the future of the sector. From the UAE’s Federal Law No. 11 of 2024 to advancements in green hydrogen, solar financing, and carbon capture technology, we spotlight the innovative strides and challenges defining this critical area.
We also go into Saudi Arabia’s initiatives to integrate carbon capture into its industrial expansion and Egypt’s AFRICARBONEX platform, which underscores the region’s commitment to a sustainable and inclusive future.
Join us as we celebrate 35 years of legal excellence and forward-thinking insights, paving the way for a more sustainable tomorrow.
Read NowSeptember 2013
What
Trade Mark Cancellation Action
Who
The Complainant, Caterpillar, is a MNC with a stellar reputation built in heavy equipment and construction.
The Respondent is the registrant of Trade Mark Registration No. 85220 in Class 3 for Cat Wax in relation to “shoe cream, shoe accessories and shoe wax” (“the Registration”).
Why
CAT is the Complainant’s house mark, which it has cultivated over decades to become a household name in heavy equipment and construction machinery. The Complainant enjoys substantial goodwill and reputation in its CAT mark.
The Registration is unauthorised and detrimental to the Complainant as its registration is likely to create confusion amongst consumers that the registration is authorised by or belongs to the Complainant or is somehow related to the Complainant. Such registration is damaging to the Complainant’s goodwill and reputation and results in brand dilution of its CAT mark.
Where
Trade Mark Registry of the Ministry of Industry & Trade in Jordan (“the Ministry”)
Facts of the Case
The Respondent had registered the disputed trade mark Registration in 2006.
The Complainant has trade mark registrations for Caterpillar & CAT in a number of countries including Jordan and has been using both trade marks for decades.
The Complainant argued, inter alia, that the disputed Registration was confusingly similar to marks in which the Complainant has rights, and the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the registration of the disputed Registration.
Ministry’s Findings
Accordingly, the Ministry found that the disputed Registration was confusingly similar to the Complainant’s CAT mark.
In conclusion, the Ministry was satisfied that the Complainant had succeeded in proving its case and ordered that the disputed Registration be struck out from the register of trade marks in its decision dated 3 July 2013.
Learnings
Caterpillar was able to leverage on its well known CAT trade mark to strike out the registration of Cat Wax Caterpillar had argued successfully that Caterpillar was more than yellow iron and is highly diversified with broad ranging businesses.
This important case demonstrates Caterpillar’s far reaching fame.
It is important to build brand equity in your trade mark as it will pay dividends in the years to come in arresting unauthorised use of your mark in similar trade marks, which seek to capitalize on the goodwill and reputation subsisting in your mark.
Brand owners ought to be vigilant in monitoring any unauthorised usage of their trade marks and to act swiftly and decisively in rooting out the problem by engaging trade mark counsel to keep watches of offending trade marks. The fact that Caterpillar had been vigilant in enforcing its rights against offenders was important in shoring up its arguments that any attempt to free ride on its substantial goodwill and reputation was damaging to its brand integrity and likely to cause brand dilution.
This significant case represents yet another decisive victory for the ATCO IP Dispute Resolution practice, part of our award winning IP practice which continues to counsel clients in ensuring that their valuable goodwill and reputation is well protected.
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