Background

The Chairman of the International Football Federation brought a claim against the acting manager of a Saudi Company and the Industry and Minerals Minister and the Trade Marks Registrar claiming that the registrar had agreed on registering the trade mark ‘Fifa Frooty' for the Saudi Company despite the objection of the chairman to the registration because of the use of the word FIFA. However, the registrar dismissed the objection, which violated the provisions of Article 5/3 of the Trade Marks Law which prohibited the registration of trademarks which are identical or similar to public symbols of international organisations. The chairman claimed that the registration of the word FIFA in the trademark would lead young persons to buy the drink. The chairman requested the registration be cancelled.

The court of first instance dismissed the case and requested the chairman to pay costs and expenses and the legal fees of the lawyers.

Decision