Consumer group urged probe on Consumer group urges IPOPHL to crack down on copyright violations of supermarket chain
A consumer group on Tuesday urged the Intellectual Property Office (IPOPHL) to look into alleged intellectual property violations of knockoff products sold by Dali Everyday Grocery.
In a letter dated Aug. 21, 2024 to Rowel Barba, director-general of IPOPHL, Malayang Konsyumer provided some proof some of these products were “confusingly similar” to established brands.
Simoun Antonio Salinas, Malayang Konsyumer spokesperson, said the group has received “complaints regarding some of (Dali’s) current products, which we believe have been potential infringements of the Intellectual Property Code.”
Among the products cited by Salinas are Grandbisco Choco Bar Cake and Grandbisco Chocolate Chip Cookies, which are clearly copies of Lemon Square Lava Cake and Galinco Chips Delight.
Other examples they presented include Say Cheese Spread, which looks like Chiz Whiz; Wagi Vienna Sausage, which share the likeness of CDO Vienna Sausage; Kopi Juan, a knockoff of Kopiko; Bakakult, Dali’s version of Yakult; and Kingrox Bleach, the Dali counterpart of Zonrox Bleach.
The lawyer said the products violated provisions of the Intellectual Property Code, specifically Section 123, which states that a mark cannot be registered if it “is identical with a registered mark belonging to a different proprietor or a mark with an earlier filing or priority date, in respect of: (i) the same goods or services; or (ii) closely related goods or services, or (iii) If it nearly resembles such a mark as to be likely to deceive or cause confusion.”
“We believe that your Office has the ability to conduct motu proprio inquiries regarding potentially violative actions that result in deceptive practices for consumers in general,” Salinas said.
