Food Importer Baladi Sued for 1.2 Million NIS Over Quality Logo Infringement
Chai Bari has filed a 1.2 million NIS lawsuit against food importer Baladi, alleging trademark infringement over a quality assurance logo. Baladi rejects the claims and vows to fight the lawsuit in court.
Food importer Baladi, controlled by Erez Dahani (77.19%), is being sued for 1.2 million NIS by Chai Bari. The plaintiff claims that Baladi marked its products with a logo highly similar to Chai Bari's registered quality assurance mark.
Chai Bari operates to promote quality and safety standards in the animal-based food industry. As part of this mission, it runs the "Chai Bari" quality mark, designed to help consumers identify animal products produced under proper conditions and strict welfare standards.
The Trademark Dispute
According to Chai Bari, Baladi began marking its products with a logo resembling the one Chai Bari developed seven years ago. The "Chai Bari" certification is based on strict regulations regarding animal welfare and rearing conditions. To ensure its credibility, the company operates a supervision system across the entire supply chain, from the breeder to the point of sale.
Chai Bari, which has held a registered trademark in Israel since 2019 for meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and milk, is asking the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court to order Baladi to remove the infringing marks from all products, packaging, labels, and promotional materials. Additionally, they seek an injunction to stop Baladi from distributing, marketing, or selling products bearing these marks.
Represented by Dr. Dan Chai, Tomer Arad, and Yair Ben-Shlomo of Dan Chai & Co., Chai Bari claims that Baladi's actions mislead consumers into believing that Baladi's products meet Chai Bari's standards or that a commercial relationship exists between the companies.
Legal Arguments and Reactions
Dr. Dan Chai stated:
"This is a highly significant case for intellectual property and reputation protection. Protecting registered trademarks, especially certification marks, is essential for fair competition and consumer trust. When similar marks are used on products that do not meet the same quality and supervision standards, it misleads the public and erodes the value of the mark."
Chai Bari noted that it attempted to reach an amicable settlement with Baladi, but negotiations failed. Consequently, the company filed the lawsuit and submitted an opposition to Baladi's trademark registration with the Trademark Registrar.
In response, Baladi stated:
"The company rejects the claims, operates in accordance with the law, and strictly respects intellectual property rights. The company will present its position as part of the legal proceedings."
