The Coca-Cola Company has threatened to sue O. Mathisen AS, Norwegian local producer of soda “Jallasprite’’, local media, Vart Oslo, reported on Tuesday.
The Coca-Cola Company, which owns the drinks “Coca-Cola”, “Sprite” and “Fanta”, requires all bottles that are labeled “Jallasprite” to be removed from the stores and all labels and marketing materials destroyed.
“In case O. Mathisen AS does not remove the name of the product by the deadline on Friday, the case will be processed by the district court in Oslo.
“The word “sprite’’ is associated with sprouting something, making it fresher, stronger. We believe that Coca-Cola cannot own this word,’’ Jarle Hollerud, CEO of O. Mathisen AS, told Vart Oslo.
Hakon Tysnes Kaasin, lawyer of The Coca-Cola Company, said that it was necessary to take action once it was discovered that someone was trying to use the trademark as a descriptive name for lemon soda.
Kaasin said: “The brand would otherwise risk entering the daily language as a term on lemon soda that is called a degeneration of the trademark and is very harmful.”
The Norwegian Patent Office has ruled that the possibility of confusion between “Sprite’’ and “Jallasprite’’ is high, but the decision can be appealed.
Trending
- Tinubu appoints renowned banker Jim Ovia as Chair of NELFUND
- Yahaya Bello: EFCC boss Olukoyede to face criminal trial for contempt of court
- President Tinubu appoint CEOs for two agencies
- Breaking: Veteran Yoruba actor, Ogunjimi is dead
- EX-PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS DEMISE OF SIDI ALI, DR. BAFFA YO
- Japa Crises: 58,000 of 130,000 registered doctors renewed licence, says MDCN
- 34-Km Ikorodu-Itokin Road Reconstruction: Gov Sanwo-Olu, Senator Abiru Pay Thank You Visit To Works Minister, Umahi, Make Case For Road Dualisation
- Yahaya Bello: EFCC Chairman’s conduct suggest vendetta, not fight against corruption – Concerned APC chieftains