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Rwanda Case Law

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Intellectual property RCOM 00216/2023/TC

MUKWANO INDUSTRIES Ltd vs SUPER MOVIATE Ltd

The Commercial Court found that Super Moviate Ltd’s “SUPER” mark imitated Mukwano Industries Ltd’s earlier “SUPA” mark and ordered it to stop sales, but denied damages for lack of proof.

  • Trademark infringement
  • Unfair competition
  • Passing off
  • Trademark-infringement
  • Unfair-competition
  • Consumer-confusion
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Intellectual property RCOM 00216/2023/TC

MUKWANO INDUSTRIES LTD v SUPER MOVIATE LTD

The Commercial Court found Super Moviate Ltd’s ‘SUPER’ mark imitated Mukwano Industries Ltd’s earlier ‘SUPA’ mark, ordered removal from market, and denied damages for lack of proof.

  • Trademark infringement
  • Unfair competition
  • Passing off
  • Trademark-infringement
  • Unfair-competition
  • Passing-off
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Intellectual property RLR V.1-2021

DRESOCECO LTD v. MININTCO LTD

Res judicata did not apply because the parties and subject matter were not identical to the previous case. The 'Wild Olive' trademark was found to be confusingly similar to the 'KANTA Brand' trademark based on dominant features, appearance, and expert testimony, constituting unfair competition. DRESOCECO LTD's importation and sale of such products in Rwanda was unlawful. The request for destruction of seized products was denied as the law only allows cessation of unfair competition, not destruction, unless damages are claimed and awarded.

  • Trademark infringement
  • Unfair competition
  • Res judicata
  • Damages
  • Procedural law
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Intellectual property RLR V1 2021

DRESOCECO Ltd v. MININTCO Ltd

The appeal lacks merit because the 'Wild Olive' mark used by DRESOCECO Ltd creates a likelihood of confusion with 'KANTA Brand', constituting unfair competition under Rwandan law. Previous judgments do not bar the claim as parties and subject matter differ. DRESOCECO Ltd must cease importation and sale of 'Wild Olive' products in Rwanda.

  • Trademark infringement
  • Unfair competition
  • Dominant test of similarity
  • Res judicata
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Intellectual property RLR V.4-2019

MININTCO_V_DOBUSJES_461773_kn

The appellant, as the registered trademark owner, had standing to sue for infringement. However, the law does not require mandatory destruction of counterfeit goods; the trial court acted within its discretion by ordering removal from the Rwandan market rather than destruction. The appellant failed to prove actual damages suffered, so no damages were awarded. The request for publication of the judgment was denied as unnecessary. The appeal was dismissed as baseless, and the appellant was ordered to pay costs and attorney fees to the respondent.

  • Trademark infringement
  • Counterfeit goods
  • Damages
  • Procedural law
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Intellectual property RLR V.3-2019

MININTCO Ltd v. DOBUSJES Ltd

MININTCO Ltd, as the registered trademark owner, has standing to sue for infringement. The court is not obliged to order destruction of counterfeit goods and may exercise discretion; in this case, destruction was not ordered as the goods were not sold on the market and no bad faith was proven. Damages for loss were denied due to lack of proof. Procedural and counsel fees were awarded to DOBUSJES Ltd as the unsuccessful appellant. Publication of the judgment was not ordered as unnecessary.

  • Trademark infringement
  • Counterfeit goods
  • Damages
  • Procedural costs
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Intellectual property law RCOMA 00319/2016/CHC/HCC

MADIOS v. BIC

The Commercial High Court held that MADIOS Ltd’s importation and sale of BIC-branded pens without authorization constituted trademark forgery and upheld most relief.

  • Trademark infringement
  • Forgery of trademark
  • Importation of counterfeit goods
  • Damages for ip infringement
  • Trademark-infringement
  • Counterfeit-goods
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Intellectual property RCOMA 00319/09/2016/CHC/HCC

MADIOS Ltd v BIC

The Commercial High Court upheld a finding that MADIOS Ltd infringed BIC’s trademark by importing and selling BIC CRISTAL pens without authorization.

  • Trademark infringement
  • Counterfeit goods
  • Damages
  • Procedural law
  • Trademark-infringement
  • Counterfeit-goods
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About this LexChat collection

Rwanda decisions are organised by court, judge, legal area and indexed issue so a practitioner can move from a proposition to a citable authority with the surrounding context intact.