The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has slapped a Rs5 million fine on M/s MCI-Bureau of Inspection & Certifications Pakistan for fraudulently copying the trademark and logo of Bureau Veritas, a France-based global testing, inspection, and certification firm, in violation of Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010.
According to a press statement issued on Monday, the case originated from a complaint filed by Bureau Veritas alleging that MCI-Bureau of Inspection & Certifications Pakistan, along with its UK counterpart, had adopted a deceptively similar trade name and logo capable of misleading consumers into believing the two entities were associated.
Upon reviewing the evidence, the CCP determined that the respondent had replicated the dominant features of the complainant registered trademark and logo, including the word Bureau and other distinctive design elements.
Applying the established legal tests of overall similarity and net general impression, the commission ruled that these resemblances constituted fraudulent use of another undertaking trademark under the Competition Act.
The commission further held that variations in colour scheme did not meaningfully differentiate the respondent logo, noting that certification and inspection documents are frequently reproduced in black and white and that consumers rarely compare competing logos directly against one another.
Investigators found that MCI-Bureau was aware of Bureau Veritas established reputation and market goodwill. The withdrawal of its own trademark registration application, filed shortly after the CCP issued a show cause notice, was cited as further evidence that the company recognised the similarity between the two marks.
The CCP also determined that MCI-Bureau failed to demonstrate the technical expertise, competence, and accreditation required for certification services of this nature. A related business operated by the respondent, Inspect Assure, was found to suffer from the same shortcomings, raising the risk of consumer deception.
Beyond the monetary penalty, the commission ordered MCI-Bureau to immediately stop using Bureau Veritas trademark, adopt a clearly distinguishable brand identity, and secure the necessary accreditation before continuing to offer certification services. The company has been directed to submit a compliance report within 60 days, with the CCP warning that failure to comply could result in additional penalties.
