Court nullifies local NBA brand and logo

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court nullified yesterday the NBA brand and logo registered by a local businessman at the Directorate General of Copyrights, Patents and Trademark, No. 291142.

U.S.-based NBA Properties Inc.'s appointed local attorney Turman M. Panggabean said the court canceled Jakarta-based businessman Komaladi Halim's right to put the NBA brand name and logo on all his products in Indonesia.

The decision was made in a trial between Halim and NBA Properties.

"The registration of Halim's products under the NBA brand name was considered a bad decision, because he wanted to utilize NBA Properties' popularity," Turman said.

Halim had registered his products, including sportswear and equipment, garments and shoes, under the NBA brand name with the directorate office on March 31, 1993.

The name and logo of Halim's NBA products were very similar to the one officially issued by NBA Properties Inc., Turman said.

"Halim had registered a similar NBA brand name and logo with the directorate without NBA Properties Inc.'s consent and permission," Turman said.

He said that the NBA is a basketball organization in the U.S. which produces various sportswear and equipment.

NBA Properties Inc. is NBA's sole brand name and logo holder worldwide. The NBA brand name and logo have been registered in the United States since Oct. 10, 1969, Turman said.

"The 1992 Regulation No. 19 on brand names provides legal protection to all well-known brands, including the one owned by NBA Properties Inc.", Turman quoted the judges as saying in court yesterday. (cst)