(Trinidad Express) Southex promoter George Singh is threatening legal action against the promoters of an alternative competition to his Chutney Soca Monarch competition—citing copyright infringement.
Singh has written to promoter of the rival competition, former San Fernando mayor Ian Atherly, stating he would take whatever action is necessary to protect his company’s reputation and trade name.
Atherly recently launched a National Chutney Soca Monarch competition, produced by the National Chutney Foundation (NCFTT).
The NCFTT has countered Singh’s claim, stating its name was incorporated through an Act in Parliament to which the name of Chutney Soca Monarch was developed and promoted since 1994.
The NCFTT stated it was prepared to be represented in any court proceedings to justify its claim.
Singh noted the similar competition names would create confusion in the minds of the public, making them believe the events were related.
The 2012 Chutney Soca Monarch Competition was relocated this year from its birthplace at Skinner Park, San Fernando, to the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain. It takes place on Saturday.
The move triggered Atherly to launch the new competition—The National Carnival Chutney Soca Monarch—to be held at Skinner Park on February 18.
Singh has stated the Chutney Soca Monarch was a registered name to the directors of Southex Event Management Company Ltd.
“Please desist from advertising this event under the name or banner immediately, as you are infringing our rights, and can do irreparable damage to the reputation of this event which was established 17 years ago and has now become a national event and one of the two most important events in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival,” he stated.
Singh said the name—Chutney Soca Monarch—distinguishes his show from any other chutney soca competition “…and your use of the name ‘National Chutney Soca Monarch’ amounts to a passing off your show as ours and is an infringement of our registered trade name, and is deceptive, in the sense that it is capable of deceiving the public into believing that your show is ours, which it is not”, the letter stated.
However, the NFCTT has said its 2012 National Carnival Chutney Soca Monarch was approved and all advertisements in relation to the promotion should continue without fear of any breach of related laws.
