https://bnnbreaking.com/world/indonesia/power-roots-ah-huat-trademark-controversy-a-legal-battle-brews-in-indonesia/As House of Butter is temprarily esconsed in Indonesia we though we’d better report this one
In an escalating international legal dispute, Malaysian beverage giant Power Root Berhad finds itself entangled in a trademark controversy involving its renowned “Ah Huat” brand. The dispute unraveled when Lim Kok Kiong, linked with Power Root’s appointed Indonesian distributor, CV Ego Sun Star Sukses Mandiri, registered the “Ah Huat” trademark in Indonesia, a day before the official distributorship took effect. Power Root maintains that it was oblivious to the registration, asserting it was executed without consent.
Trademark Lawsuit and Counterclaim
In January 2023, Power Root’s subsidiary advanced a lawsuit to annul the Indonesian trademark, alleging it was registered in bad faith. The gambit was met with a RM23 million lawsuit from CV Ego, accusing Power Root’s subsidiary of trademark infringement. The court, however, dismissed the counterclaim, referencing Power Root’s earlier trademark filings across various countries and concurrent legal proceedings.
Dismissal and Appeal
On October 31, 2023, the trademark cancellation lawsuit lodged by Power Root was dismissed by an Indonesian court on technical grounds. Unfazed by the setback, Power Root has since taken the fight to the Indonesian Supreme Court, lodging an appeal against the decision.
Unnotified Judgment and Future Legal Battles
Adding to Power Root’s woes, two of its subsidiaries were ordered to pay RM23 million to CV Ego, a ruling made without their notification. Undeterred, the subsidiaries have expressed their intention to challenge the decision. As the legal battle unfolds, the global beverage industry watches anxiously, awaiting the final verdict on the future of the “Ah Huat” brand.
More at
Power Root’s “Ah Huat” Trademark Controversy: A Legal Battle Brews in Indonesia
