incorporated the words "Mica" or "Mika". In fact there is no evidence of any use in South
Africa in respect of paint or allied products of any trade mark containing the word
"Mica", save for the use by appellant of the trade mark "Micatex"and the use by
respondent of the marks "Mikadek" and "Mikacote".
On appeal to us the argument revolved mainly around three basic issues. These were:
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(1) Whether the use by respondent of the mark Mikacote was use as a trade mark.
(2) Whether the use by respondent of the mark Mikacote infringed appellant's rights as
the registered proprietor of the trade mark Micatex.
(3) Whether the use by respondent of the mark Mikacote was protected by the provisions
of s. 46(b) of the Act. In addition, respondent's counsel emphasized the disputes of fact
raised by the affidavits and pointed out that appellant never sought to resolve these issues
by means of oral evidence. I have already dealt with this aspect of the matter. The
existence of disputes of
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fact does not, as I have indicated, necessarily preclude a final interdict being granted. The
main consequence is simply that, in terms of the above-mentioned general rule, where the
affidavits in this case raise real and bona fide disputes of fact, the appellant is bound to
accept the respondent's version of the facts.
I proceed now to consider the three basic issues.
Use as a trade mark
It is provided by s. 44(1)(a) that subject to certain provisions of the Act, which are not
immediately relevant, the rights acquired by registration of a trade mark shall be
infringed by -