Societe Guy Laroche wins lawsuit over trademark

JAKARTA (JP): Societe Guy Laroche, the parent company of the famed French designer's products, has won it's day in court and become the sole owner of the Guy Laroche trademark in Indonesia.

The Central Jakarta District Court ruled in favor of the Societe Guy Laroche which filed two lawsuits against Indonesian businesswoman Muljati Kusnadi, who has been selling her products using the French designer's name and logo.

Amroos Law Consultants, the law firm which represented the French company in the lawsuit, said that the court ruling reflects Indonesia's commitment to protecting international trademarks. This reflects a precedent set by Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman in a case involving Pierre Cardin, the famed French fashion designer, in Jakarta last October.

The lawyers said that the decision would help to erase Indonesia's reputation of being a safe haven for trademark piracy.

She had apparently registered the Guy Laroche brand with the government agency in 1977, long before the rightful owner did.

The businesswoman was not available for comment yesterday.

The lawsuits were filed against her and the Directorate of Brand Registration at the Ministry of Justice, which allowed her to register the brand name Guy Laroche.

In the first suit, Guy Laroche accused the woman of registering the brand for handkerchiefs, bags, waistbands, suitcases and leather without its consent. In the second, the plaintiff said the woman used the trademark for waistbands on clothing.

The logo she used was identical to the one used by Societe Guy Laroche's products in both cases.

Guy Laroche urged the court to annul her registered logo and issue an order stating that the plaintiff was the rightful owner of the brand. It also urged the court to order the directorate to obey its ruling.

All the plaintiff's demands were granted by the court, saying that the trademark used by the woman for her goods was similar to that of Guy Laroche.

Amroos lawyers praised the court's decision, saying that it was a significant progress in judicial and political terms. (par)