Paris takes Panagoda to courts

By Stanley Samarasinghe
Air Liquide of Paris in France filed an action against Air Liquide (Pvt) Ltd of Templeburg Industrial Estate Panagoda, Homagama claiming Rs. 100,000,000 damages for using its trade mark.

Western Province Commercial High Court Judge Mr. K. T. Chithrasiri issued summons on defendant ‘Air Liquide’ of Panagoda Homagama returnable on 19.02.2008.

When this case came up before Commercial High Court Mr. Harsha Amarasekara, with Kanchana Pieris instructed by Sudath Perera appearing for plaintiff, and submitted to court that ‘Air liquide’ of Paris in France was a widely known company, with over 130 subsidiary companies in over 70 countries, and had been established in 1902.

The plaintiff company has its head quarters at No. 75 Quai D’ Orsay 75007 Paris in France, and was currently world leader in the industrial medical gases and related services industry.

Mr. Amarasekera further submitted that defendant company has deliberately chosen the name‘Air Liquide’ in order to attract to itself the benefits and good will of the original company in France and had thus misled the people.