Japan’s Sharp, Coimbatore’s Sharp Ind told to settle trademark row amicably

Japan’s entertainment electronics and consumer durables major Sharp Corporation and the Coimbatore-based water pumps manufacturer Sharp Industries are expected to settle a trademark dispute between them amicably.

While Sharp Corporations products are well know around the world, Sharp Industries’ water pumps – branded ‘Sharp No. 1’ command substantial share in the Indian market. The two have been fighting a battle over the ‘Sharp’ trademark for a while now.

As the case came up for hearing, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) asked them to try and find an amicable settlement.

The counsel of Sharp Corporation submitted that though both the companies tried their best to resolve the issue as planned earlier, there were two stumbling blocks in arriving at a consensus.

According to him, the issues were that the pump manufacturer also sells Sharp branded monoblock pumps in some overseas markets, though it uses several other brands for some of its products in India, and there is no guarantee that Sharp Industries would not extend the brand to other product categories that it may plan in future.

The counsel for Sharp Industries argued that his company would not create any confusion in the market as it is not in the business of consumer electronics or durables as in the case of Sharp Corporation. Neither does the Japanese company manufacture motor pumps.

However, as suggested by the IPAB, both of them agreed to consult their clients again to resolve the issue.

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