South Africa Case Law

Bayerische Motoren Werker Aktiengesellschaft v Grandmark International (Pty) Ltd and Another (722/12)

Bayerische Motoren Werker Aktiengesellschaft v Grandmark International (Pty) Ltd and Another (722/12) [2013] ZASCA 114; 2014 (1) SA 323 (SCA); 2013 BIP 427 (SCA) (18 September 2013)

Court

Supreme Court of Appeal

Case number

722/12

Judges

Brand, Nugent, Cachalia, Wallis, Swain

The Supreme Court of Appeal held that BMW’s replacement car-part designs were functional, not aesthetic, and that use of “BM” on packaging was descriptive, not infringing.

• Registered Designs
• Aesthetic Vs Functional Designs
• Trade Mark Infringement
• Descriptive Use
• Spare Parts Exception
• Registered-designs

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft v Grandmark International (Pty) Ltd and Another (50212/2010)

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft v Grandmark International (Pty) Ltd and Another (50212/2010) [2012] ZAGPPHC 139 (25 July 2012)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

50212/2010

Judge

Ranchod

The court found that BMW AG failed to establish contempt of the 1999 court order, as Grandmark provided sufficient evidence to raise reasonable doubt regarding deliberate and mala fide non-compliance. Regarding the E46 design registrations, the court held that BMW AG did not prove the existence of novel aesthetic features; the designs were dictated solely by function and anticipated by prior BMW designs, rendering them unregistrable as aesthetic designs and lacking novelty and originality. The counter-application for revocation of the E46 design registrations succeeded. On trade mark infringe…

Source excerpt

• Registered Designs
• Designs Act
• Trade Mark Infringement
• Novelty And Originality
• Aesthetic Vs Functional Designs
• Counter Application For Revocation