A High Court judge rejected an interim injunction filed against the Alliance Francaise de Colombo by rival cultural organisation Alliance Francaise de Kotte. In this case, the Kotte Alliance Francaise maintains that the Colombo Alliance Francaise is not affiliated to or supported by the French Embassy in Colombo or recognised by the government, and was therefore not entitled to use the Alliance Francaise logo and trade name.
For its part, Alliance Francaise de Colombo says it has always operated as an independent body, although it has collaborated with the French Embassy on cultural projects, and that it has been using the trade name and logo since 1968. The organisation said it did not require formal recognition, as suggested by the petitioners, and that it was entitled to conduct its own cultural programmes, although it had never been a licensee of the French Embassy in Colombo or of any other party.
High Court Judge P. W. D. C. Jayathilake was of the view that the Alliance Francaise de Colombo could not be prevented from using the trade name and the trade mark.
The next hearing will be on January 9, 2012. |
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