South Africa Case Law

El Baik Food Systems Co. SA v Al Baik Fast Food Distribution Co. S.A.E (A998/13)

El Baik Food Systems Co. SA v Al Baik Fast Food Distribution Co. S.A.E (A998/13) [2015] ZAGPPHC 620; 2015 BIP 302 (GP) (1 September 2015)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

A998/13

Judges

Murphy, Rabie, Legodi

The court held that the respondent's adoption and proposed use of the subject mark in South Africa constituted a bona fide claim to proprietorship under the Trade Marks Act. The appellant failed to provide sufficient evidence of bad faith, misrepresentation, or fraudulent conduct by the respondent. The appellant did not establish that its Albaik marks were well-known in South Africa or that registration of the subject mark would cause deception or confusion. The territorial nature of trade mark rights means that foreign use or registration does not bar local appropriation unless the mark is w…

Source excerpt

• Trade Mark Registration
• Proprietorship Of Trade Mark
• Well Known Marks
• Paris Convention Protection
• Deceptive Or Confusing Marks
• Territoriality Of Trade Marks

Victoria's Secret Inc v Edgars Stores Ltd. (428/92)

Victoria's Secret Inc v Edgars Stores Ltd. (428/92) [1994] ZASCA 43; 1994 (3) SA 739 (AD); [1994] 4 All SA 307 (AD) (28 March 1994)

Court

Supreme Court of Appeal

Case number

428/92

Judges

CORBETT, E M GROSSKOPF, GOLDSTONE, HARMS, NICHOLAS

The court held that South African trade mark rights turn on local use or a real intention to use, not foreign reputation, and dismissed Victoria's Secret's appeal.

• Trade Mark Proprietorship
• Territoriality Of Trade Marks
• Passing Off
• Well Known Marks
• Paris Convention
• Registration Priority