Here's some news from Morocco. A Turkish company with the striking name POLIN SU PARKLARI VE HAVUZ SİSTEMLERI ANONIM SIRKETI (in English, "Pole Water Park and Pool Systems Joint Stock Company"), was the original proprietor of the trade mark "Polin stylized in color", International Registration no. 1061615, registered on 14 May 2010 in many countries for goods in Class 28. This company discovered to its dismay that a Moroccan trade mark application had been filed for the word POLIN (application no.194155 on 9 January 2013 by a local applicant, RUE IBN KATIR RESIDENCE AL MAWLID IMMEUBLE, for goods in Classes 28, 37 and 41.
An opposition was successfully filed against this application in so far as it affected goods in Class 28, based on the opponent's prior registrations. In the absence of an appeal, the decision is now final.
This blogger notes with satisfaction that it is possible to file an opposition and eliminate a confusingly similar mark within a reasonable time-frame, which suggests that the trade mark administration side of Morocco's IP office,
OMPIC, is running smoothly.
Source: news item frm NJQ & Associates, who acted for the successful opponent.
