The United States Polo Association , which sells fashion items under its brand, says it is heading to court in November in order to combat perceived anticompetitive conduct by LA Group, the owner of Polo South Africa, setting the stage for further brutal legal battles over the complex issue of local trademarks linked to the sport.
USPA, the nonprofit governing body for polo in that country, says LA Group has been contacting customers in an attempt to discourage them from selling USPA-branded goods, while in a separate legal matter, it has applied to cancel several of LA Group's trademarks, a matter that is likely to be heard in the next year. LA Group, meanwhile, denies that it is"bullying" its customers, saying it values its relationships.
Stable Group, the local licensee of USPA, had recently been involved in a series of court battles with LA Group, which saw the latter only narrowly hold on to its rights to its Polo brand in SA.Get 14 days free to read all our investigative and in-depth journalism. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.