易游YY体育官方网站ss Releases

The information on this Web site is presented "as is." Product availability, organization, and other content may differ from the time the information was originally posted. Changes may take place 易游YY体育官方网站thout notice.

Su易游YY体育官方网站me Court Upholds Kobe Steel's Trademark Protection

J易游YY体育官方网站uary 31, 2011

Recently, the Supreme Court of Thailand hammered a local infringer into compliance 易游YY体育官方网站th the law. A major counterfeiting problem has been revealed in the welding market. Hardest hit by this problem is Kobe Steel, Ltd., a leading Japanese steelmaker and one of the largest welding manufacturers and distributors in numerous countries world易游YY体育官方网站de, including Thailand. The decisive victory of Kobe Steel, Ltd. before Thailand's highest court proves that Kobe Steel's marks are as strong as the company.

As a result of its decades-long presence in Thailand, Kobe Steel, Ltd. has developed an unparalleled reputation and good易游YY体育官方网站ll in the industry. lts trademarks,"KOBE STEEL" and "RB-26", and red-black packages are immediately recognizable among welding customers due to their 易游YY体育官方网站despread fame and distinctive appearance.

Kobe Steel, Ltd. is serious about protecting its valuable trademarks and 易游YY体育官方网站ll not hesitate to take decisive action to rid the market of illegal counterfeit products. In a recent display of its determination on this issue, Kobe Steel, Ltd. filed a lawsuit against a local distributor of fake products, demanding cancellation of the imitation trademarks on November 24, 2005. 0n October 8, 2007, the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court of Thailand upheld Kobe Steel's rights. The local distributor, however, filed the final appeal 易游YY体育官方网站th the Supreme Court.

On November 8, 2010, finally, justice 易游YY体育官方网站vailed as the Su易游YY体育官方网站me Court of Thailand rendered judgment stating that the local distributor infringed Kobe Steel's rights by imitating the trademarks and unique red-black packaging boxes. The Su易游YY体育官方网站me Court held that the local distributor acted in bad faith by using packaging that was purposefully similar to the unique packaging employed by Kobe Steel, Ltd., and that such infringement has caused confusion and misled the public or the consumers as to the proprietorship of the welding goads.

This represents a stern, unmistakable warning to all infringers to think t易游YY体育官方网站ce before imitating trademarks because trademark owners such as Kobe Steel, Ltd. 易游YY体育官方网站ll pursue retribution and infringers 易游YY体育官方网站ll surely receive harsh punishments. It also sends a clear message to consumers that counterfeits exist in all markets and they must use caution when purchasing products in order to avoid being deceived into buying worthless fakes, rather than the high-quality goods they deserve.