A high-profile trademark infringement case has concluded in Uzbekistan, with the Economic Court of Surkhandarya Region ruling in favour of three major international brands. The court found the defendant guilty of illegally using the trademarks of Hugo Boss, Puma, and Tommy Hilfiger, and ordered the payment of compensation along with the cessation of infringing activities.
The lawsuit was filed by representatives of Hugo Boss AG (Germany), Puma SE (Germany), and Tommy Hilfiger Licensing B.V. (Netherlands). The court established that the defendant had used the brands’ trademarks without any licensing agreements, distributed counterfeit goods, and actively advertised them.
Under the court’s ruling, the infringer is required to: cease the illegal use of the trademarks; seize and destroy all counterfeit goods; and remove illegally applied markings from products and packaging. The total amount of the award exceeded UZS 111 million (USD 10 thousand).
This is not the first instance of Hugo Boss trademark infringement in Uzbekistan – a previous case involved another local enterprise selling counterfeit goods bearing the German brand’s trademark.
The case signals the willingness of Uzbek courts to protect the rights of international trademark holders and sends a clear message to the market about the unacceptability of counterfeit goods.