KARACHI: Collector Model Customs Colletorate Appraisement-West Shahnaz Maqbool has re-opened the case and assigned Additional Collector Sadia Sheeraz to conduct investigations into the import of alleged counterfeit playing cards.
Deputy Collector Adjudication Mehmood-ur-Rehman Khattak has vacated the show cause notice served on M/s Hasni Traders as the case of importing counterfeit products could be establish against them and ordered to release the goods.
M/s SS Corporation filed an IPR enforcement application on behalf of M/s Kuo Kau Paper Products, Taiwan, against a consignment of playing cards bearing trademark USAROYAL imported by M/s Hasni Traders, Lahore from China via MCC Appraisement West.
ROYAL figures in the recordation database (IPO Pakistan repository of trademarks) as a trademark allotted to the right-holder M/s Kuo Kau and USAROYAL doesn’t exist as a trademark as yet. The seized goods bearing trademark USAROYAL are deceptively similar to the original goods bearing trademark ROYAL in all aspects. The goods have been therefore seized.
The importer submitted that the USAROYAL is a registered brand in China and the importer submitted all the certificates, which confirm that the USAROYAL is registered in China while even the word ROYAL in urdu also has the registration certificate from China.
Deputy Collector Adjudication after detailed deliberation observed that it is not a case of trademark infringement and vacated the show cause notice and ordered release of the goods.
