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The Commercial Case Law Index is a collection of judgments from African countries on topics relating to commercial legal practice. The collection aims to provide a snapshot of commercial legal practice in a country, rather than present solely traditionally "reportable" cases. The index currently covers 400 judgments from Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.
Get started on finding judgments that are relevant to you by browsing the topic list on the left of the screen. Click the arrows next to the topic names to reveal a detailed list of sub-topics. Most judgments are accompanied by a short summary written by subject-matter expert postgraduate students from the University of Cape Town.
Techno Telecom Ltd v Kigalo Investments Ltd (MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE NO.0017 OF 2011) [2011] UGCOMMC 112 (28 November 2011); 
CL Index Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property LawIn this case, the court considered the capacity (locus standi) and tests for making an application, under ss 45 and 46 the Trademarks Act.
In this case, the competitors were trading in respect of goods in class 9 (phones and other electronic goods). The court determined whether the applicant (a registered owner of the trademark TECNO in Hong Kong) had the locus standi to challenge registration of the trademark TECNO in Uganda. The court applied the rule that an agent of an owner of a registered mark in a Paris Convention member country had such capacity and held that the applicant had the capacity.
The court observed that the trademarks of the litigants were identical in terms of wording and in respect of the same goods. The court applied the rule that the mere adoption of a mark without bona fide use does not create trademark rights. The court noted that the respondent was using the mark for illegal purposes such as counterfeiting and passing off. Accordingly, the court ordered that the trademark be removed for non–use as per s 46 of the Trademarks Act.
Muse Af Enterprises Co. Ltd Vs Billen General Trading Ltd & 2 Ors (CIVIL SUIT NO. 102 & 271 OF 2013) [2015] UGCOMMC 88 (16 June 2015); CL Index Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property LawTrademark – Fraudulent registration of foreign trademark in Uganda
Katatumba v Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda (CIVIL SUIT NO 307 OF 2011) [2014] UGCOMMC 107 (18 August 2014); CL Index Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property LawCopyright – Infringement of intellectual property rights
Kampala Stocks Supermarket Co. Ltd Vs Seven Days International Ltd. (CIVIL SUIT NO 112 OF 2015) [2015] UGCOMMC 96 (31 July 2015); CL Index Injunction Injunctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property Law Trademarks Intellectual Property Law Locus Standi Parties Civil ProcedureThe plaintiff sought a permanent injunction against the defendant to prevent it from selling, offering for sale, or dealing in goods bearing the plaintiff’s registered trademark.
The court considered whether the defendant infringed the plaintiff’s registered trademark and whether the defendant was a bona fide user of the trademark. The court also considered whether the defendant had locus standi (standing) to challenge the registration of the plaintiff’s trademark.
Held, the defendant did not have locus standi to challenge the plaintiff’s trademark registration. Held, although the defendant was a trader, it could not claim innocence by virtue of advertising the plaintiff’s trademarks. The court stated that points of law had to be argued and evidence adduced by the plaintiff in so far as infringement is concerned in order for final judgement to be granted.
The court extensively examined existing trademark legislation and decided cases and concluded that the defendant did not have locus standi to challenge the plaintiff’s registration as the plaintiff enjoyed statutory protection due to registering its mark in Uganda first.
Interim injunction granted in favour of the plaintiff until the trial.
Colgate Palmolive Company Ltd v Sombe Supermarket Ltd (CIVIL SUIT NO 689 OF 2016) [2017] UGCOMMC 6 (10 February 2017); CL Index Passing Off Intellectual Property Law Exemplary Damages Damages Civil Remedies Injunction Injunctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property Law Trademarks Intellectual Property LawTrademark – Infringing mark resembles with the plaintiff’s mark – Infringement proved
Purplemoon (U) Ltd v Numaa Industries Ltd (MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO 1137 OF 2016) [2017] UGCOMMC 44 (15 May 2017); CL Index Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property LawThis was a ruling on an application for a temporary injunction to restrain the respondent from using or trading in goods bearing the applicant’s registered trademark (moon with a logo).
The competitors in this case were in the same industry trading in textile materials and goods under the logos ‘Purple Moon Uganda Limited’ established in Uganda (applicant) and ‘Z moon Purple moon’ established in China (respondent). The court applied the principle of territoriality and held that the applicant was the registered owner of the trademark in dispute and had the right to stop the respondent from using the mark.
The court held that the respondent’s mark was infringing since it was similar in wording (moon) to the applicant’s registered mark in Uganda and was likely to deceive customers in the course of trade.
The court also determined whether the respondent had the capacity (locus standi) to challenge registration of a trademark in Uganda. The court applied the rule that an agent of an owner of a registered mark in a Paris Convention member country had such capacity. The court observed that the respondents were not agents of the two companies that had registered the trademark in China thus lacked capacity.
Accordingly, the court issued the injunction as prayed for and costs of the application subject to the outcome of the main suit.
Vision Impex Limited v Sansa & Anor (CIVIL SUIT NO. 303 OF 2013) [2017] UGCOMMC 59 (6 June 2017); CL Index Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property Law Injunction Injunctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Damages Civil RemediesThe plaintiff was a registered owner of "Feathers" sanitary pads and claimed that the defendant imported "Featlhers" sanitary pads to be sold in Uganda. The court considered whether the plaintiff had exclusive use of a trademark which was infringed by importation and sale of a product.
The court held that s 36 of the Trade Marks Act grants exclusive use of a mark, which is infringed if a person who is not the owner of that mark uses it and causes confusion to average consumers. Civil proceedings may be instituted in terms of s 79(1). According to ss 79(3) and (4), the grant of an injunction does not affect a claim of damages, direct loss of sales and consequent loss of profits as well as the depreciation of the goodwill. Section 81(1) provides that one available form of relief is an account of profits to the plaintiff.
The court found that the plaintiff had exclusive use of the trademark. Despite the minor differences the goods were the same visually, conceptually, phonetically and belonged to the same class of goods. Therefore, concluded that the goods would likely confuse reasonable consumers. The defendants were guilty of infringement of the trademark by selling and importation of the sanitary pads. The plaintiff did not deal with the actual loss of sales, and no evidence was adduced to show that the counterfeit goods were circulating in Uganda.
The plaintiff's complaints were upheld. The court granted costs, ordered the destruction of the impounded goods, permanent injunction and general damages.