Global sportswear brand PUMA SE has secured four enjoining orders from the Commercial High Court of Colombo against four entities allegedly involved in the sale of counterfeit goods bearing the company’s registered trademarks, the Daily FT reported.
The civil litigation was initiated by PUMA SE, represented by Sudath Perera Associates, against “SAFFANS,” and three other related entities under Sri Lanka’s Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003.
According to the company, the defendants were unlawfully selling footwear products that featured the “PUMA” name, the leaping cat logo, and other distinctive elements deceptively similar to the brand’s globally recognized trademarks. PUMA argued that the retailers, known in the local footwear industry, were aware or should have been aware that the goods were counterfeit.
PUMA further claimed that the unauthorised use of its marks was aimed at misleading consumers and capitalizing on the brand’s reputation. The circulation of counterfeit goods—described as being of inferior quality—was said to be causing significant damage to the company’s goodwill and public trust.
After reviewing the pleadings, Judges Amali Ranaweera and Chamath Madanayake issued enjoining orders prohibiting the defendants and any parties acting on their behalf from producing, importing, marketing, selling, or otherwise distributing any goods bearing marks identical or confusingly similar to PUMA’s trademarks.