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Israel:Swedish furniture giant IKEA sues Netanya store |
2005-1-19
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IKEA, a leader in the furniture world has hauled a Netanya furniture store with familiar name - KITEA.
As per the suit against operator Kodiak Israel International Trade and its manager Silvia Amar, IKEA recently discovered that Kodiak is operating a furniture, accessory and housewares store in Netanya using an almost identical logo to the famous company''s trademark. The suit alleges that defendant Kodiak is using the slogan "Sound familiar?", which plaintiff IKEA says is a clear attempt to connect itself to the Scandinavian company.
IKEA immediately hired legal hawks and filed the suit as soon as it found the store using the familiar and misleading name, issuing warning letters ordering the company to stop and avoid using the name and seeking compensation.
However, the defendant argued saying the name had origin in the Hebrew word ''kit'' majority of its goods are sold as kits for do-it-yourself assembly. IKEA informed that KITEA agreed to change its logo, but not its name.
Over 7 million customers have paid visit to IKEA since it opened its Israeli branch in 2001, registering sales worth NIS 1.13 billion in furniture and housewares. |
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