The Coca-Cola company has dragged Mamuda Beverages Nigeria Limited, the manufacturers of Pop cola, to Federal High Court Kano over trademark ‘theft’.
Recall that Pop cola was launched in June 2021, with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State as the chief promoter of the drink.
A copy of motion exparte obtained shows that coca-cola is accusing Mamuda Beverages Companies of using a ‘RIBBON device’ trademark that is near identical to its ‘dynamic ribbon device ‘ trademarks as well as depicting its Pop cola product in a script that mimics and causing the mark to be confusingly similar to the coca-cola trademark.
According to the motion, ‘’the defendants ( Mamuda Beverages Nigeria Limited) is distributing and advertising its Pop cola products get up that consists exclusively of a combination of all the elements that comprise the applicant’s famous coca-cola trade dress.
‘’The defendant’s use of the trademarks Ribbon device and Pop cola in special script amounts to an infringement of applicant’s right of exclusivity of use of the marks ‘coca cola’ script and ‘dynamic ribbons device ‘, and is liable to create confusion to the general public, foreign and international, as to the likelihood of an association between the applicant and the dependent”, the motion read in part.
