Connect with us

BIZ

DSI obtains enjoining order against infringement of ‘Fun Souls’ brand

Published

on

Action was filed in the Commercial High Court of Colombo by DSI through their Attorneys Sudath Perera Associates against the entity Lakpa Footwear Ltd., with its headquarters based in Horana. The action was filed for the infringement of DSI’s ‘Fun Souls’ trademark and brand and the shoe design on the basis of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and passing-off.

D. Samson & Sons Ltd., widely known as DSI, is a leading homegrown brand and manufacturer of footwear, apparel, and bicycle tyres across the country and has established a strong reputation for quality products in Sri Lanka since its inception. In 2016, DSI introduced and developed the brand ‘Fun Souls’ with a youth identity, to offer a range of unique shoes and bags, including infant shoes, toddler shoes, boys’ and girls’ footwear, and accessories. This ‘Fun Souls’ shoe design was an original concept presented by the DSI brand family.

On 1 November, Commercial High Court Judge Jagath A. Kahandagamage issued an enjoining order against the Defendant for engaging in the sale of kids’ footwear with a brand name/design identical or confusingly similar to the ‘Fun Souls’ trademark and the shoe design.

The Plaintiff, DSI, pleaded that the Defendant has copied the mark ‘Fun Souls’ and the design of the shoe belonging to the Plaintiff in a similar manner with the deliberate intention of passing off its products as those of the Plaintiff.

The Plaintiff further pleaded that the slight, insignificant changes in the impugned mark and the design used by the Defendant are unnoticeable to the average consumer and deliberately adopted with the mala fide intention of the Defendant to usurp the goodwill and reputation of the Plaintiff’s ‘Fun Souls’ trademark and the shoe design.

The Commercial High Court, after hearing the submissions of the Lead Counsel for the Plaintiff, issued an enjoining order as requested by the Plaintiff. The order restrains the Defendant from continuing to use or carrying out business using its infringing shoe design, under the name, sign, or mark ‘Fun Shoe,’ which is misleadingly similar to the Plaintiff’s trademark ‘Fun Souls’ and its associated shoe design.

It also prohibits the Defendant from using any other variation of the name, sign, mark, or shoe design that is confusingly similar to the Plaintiff’s trademark or trade name, and from adopting any trade name or trademark that could cause confusion with the Plaintiff’s trademark or trade name.

(ft.lk)

(This story, originally published by ft.lk1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

BIZ

Car giant Ford & Barbie maker Mattel warn over tariffs costs

Published

on

By

Barbie maker Mattel says it will put up the prices of some of its toys in the US as President Donald Trump’s tariffs increase its costs.

The firm also says it will cut the number of products it makes in China for the American market.

At the same time, car making giant Ford says the levies will cost it about $1.5bn (£1.13bn) this year.

They join a growing list of big businesses warning about the impact of US tariffs on their companies and the wider economy.

“Given the volatile macroeconomic environment and evolving US tariff landscape, it is difficult to predict consumer spending, and Mattel’s US sales in the remainder of the year and holiday season,” Mattel said as it updated investors on its financial performance.

The US accounts for about half of Mattel’s global toy sales. It imports around 20% of its goods sold there from China.

The company said it plans to reduce those Chinese imports to the US to below 15% by next year.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed new import taxes of up to 145% on goods from China.

His administration said last month that when the new tariffs are added on to existing ones, the levies on some Chinese goods could reach 245%.

China has hit back with a 125% tax on products from the US.

Apart from China, Mattel imports products – including Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars – from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

The three countries were also hit with steep tariffs by Trump in April, before they were paused for 90 days.

Last week, Trump acknowledged the potential impact of tariffs. American children might “have two dolls instead of 30 dolls”, he said, but added that China would suffer more than the US.

Carmaker Ford said it expected tariffs to add $2.5bn to its overall costs this year, mainly due to the increased expense of Mexican and Chinese imports.

But the firm said it had cut about $1bn of those added costs by taking various measures, including transporting vehicles from Mexico to Canada to avoid US tariffs.

The firm also suspended its annual earnings guidance to investors because of uncertainty around Trump’s trade policies.

In April, firms including technology giant Intel, footwear makers Adidas and Skechers, and consumer goods group Procter & Gamble detailed the impact of tariffs on their businesses.

“The very fluid trade policies in the US and beyond, as well as regulatory risks, have increased the chance of an economic slowdown with the probability of a recession growing,” Intel’s chief financial officer David Zinsner said during a call with investors.

Sportswear giant Adidas warned tariffs would lead to higher prices in the US for popular trainers, including the Gazelle and the Samba.

The finance chief of footwear firm Skechers, David Weinberg, told investors: “The current environment is simply too dynamic from which to plan results with a reasonable assurance of success.”

And Procter & Gamble – which makes Ariel laundry detergent, Head & Shoulders shampoo and Gillette shaving products – said it was considering changes to its prices to make up for the extra cost of materials sourced from China and other places.

(BBC News)

Continue Reading

BIZ

CSE to close early for LG polls

Published

on

By

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has announced that trading hours will be shortened on May 06, in view of the Local Government Elections.

On that day, trading, which commences at 9.30am, will conclude at 12:30pm – two hours earlier than the usual closing time of 2:30pm.

The CSE stated that the decision was made to accommodate the convenience of investors, staff, and other market participants during the election day.

Continue Reading

BIZ

Coconut prices soar

Published

on

By

Consumers are struggling due to a sharp rise in coconut prices across the country.

Traders say large coconuts now sell for Rs.200 – 250, while smaller ones range from Rs.175 – 190.

The steep price hike is straining household budgets and impacting small businesses that depend on coconuts for daily food preparation.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved