Taipei “aman” Beaten by International “AMAN”.

The trademark -- “aman” owned by the Aman Properties Group based in Taipei, was held constituting similarity with the trademarks -- “AMAN “and “AMANRESORTS” owned by the AMAN GROUP, the international resort hotel group, and the said trademark (i.e. “aman”) was revoked by Taiwan Intellectual Property Office.

Aman Properties Group alleged that its trademark was different from those owned by AMAN GROUP, which was designated to be used on different services, and consumers should be able to distinguish its trademark from those owned by AMAN GROUP easily.  Notwithstanding, AMAN GROUP presented reports released by several travel magazines and travel writers about its resort hotel group to prove that it used the “AMAN” trademark earlier than Aman Properties Group.

The judge, holding that the only difference in the trademarks of AMAN GROUP and Aman Properties Group was in the upper and lower cases of English letters, while pronunciation and appearance of the both constituted similarity, dismissed the action filed by Aman Properties Group.  (2010.10)

IP Court docket number:  (99) Xing-Shang-Su-Zi No. 90 [2010]
/DC