In July, a firm sued Safaricom alleging that the Telco was infringing on its Okoa Stima trademark. Safaricom launched a credit facility product in collaboration with Kenya Power that allows customers to borrow any amount based on a pre-determined credit limit based on the customer’s relationship with Kenya Power. The loan is charged a facilitation fee of 10% and is payable in 7 days.
The IT firm, Color Planet, claimed it registered the Okoa Stima trademark name in May with the Kenya Industrial Properties Institute (KIPI). Color Paint said the name Okoa Stima is one of an electricity purchase software it developed and even introduced to Kenya Power seeking to partner in November 2013. The company further claims it has worked on the software since 2012 and that the infringement by Safaricom has in deed watered down the quality of the Okoa Stima trademark.
During court hearings last week, Safaricom claimed that the Okoa Stima trademark is not registered with KIPI and thus did not amount to copyright infringement in any form. The firm also claimed it conducted a search on May 25th with KIPI and the trademark was not registered. Safaricom further sought to register the Okoa Stima trademark in April but was informed by KIPI that Color Planet had sought registration of the same trademark. Safaricom entered into correspondence with Color Planet in June informing the IT company of its intent to contend the trademark application. The company further claimed that the services offered by Color Planet are not in anyway related to the trademark application.
The legal tussle continues….
Source: Business Daily
