In brief
- Somaliland Sun on 22 January 2018 published a trademark cautionary notice stating that The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company owns the P&O Ports trademark and will take legal action against infringers.
- The notice states the company claims all rights in the trademark in Somaliland and lists registrations in classes 35, 37 and 39.
- The report does not establish whether the trademark is registered in Somaliland, whether any legal action has followed, or any commercial interest by the company in Somali ports or construction.
Somaliland Sun reported on 22 January 2018 that a trademark cautionary notice for P&O Ports had been published in its Economy section. The notice was published by The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, a company of 16 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JQ, United Kingdom, according to the report.
What the notice states
The notice states that the P&O Ports trademark, with a flag device, is the property of The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. It states that the same trademark is used for business management, business administration and office functions among other services, and that the company claims all rights in respect of the trademark in Somaliland.
According to the notice as published by Somaliland Sun, the trademark is registered in three classes:
- Class 35 covering business management, business administration, office functions, and related services;
- Class 37 covering building construction, repair, installation services, construction of ports, property development, and related services;
- Class 39 covering transport, packaging, storage, port services, logistics, and related services.
The notice adds that The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company will initiate appropriate legal action against any person or persons found to be using the trademark or any other trademark deceptively or confusingly similar, or otherwise infringing on its rights.
What the report does not establish
The report does not establish whether the P&O Ports trademark is actually registered in Somaliland, and if so, under what registration number, class and date. It does not establish whether any legal action has been initiated since the notice, or against whom. It does not name any individual or representative of The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company beyond the company name and address. It records no response from Somaliland authorities, port operators, or parties using or licensing the P&O Ports name. The notice does not state any commercial or contractual interest of the company in Somaliland ports or construction projects.
The report also does not establish the specific date the notice was published beyond the 22 January 2018 report date.
Read alongside Berbera
Given the volume of port-related announcements in the region, readers of the Berbera port expansion file should treat this report as a single data point: a claim of trademark rights, not evidence of a project, contract or build. No further details of the company's Somali interests appear in the notice.
Frequently asked questions
Who issued the P&O Ports trademark cautionary notice?
The notice was published by The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, a company at 16 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JQ, United Kingdom, according to the report published by Somaliland Sun on 22 January 2018.
What protection does the notice offer in Somaliland?
The notice states that the company claims all rights in the P&O Ports trademark in Somaliland and will initiate appropriate legal action against infringers. The report does not establish whether the trademark is registered in Somaliland or whether any legal action has followed.
Does the notice relate to Berbera port or any Somaliland project?
The notice states trademark rights in classes covering port services, construction of ports and logistics, but it does not identify any specific Somaliland project, contract or port operation.