South Korean and German companies sue Kauno Grūdais over trademark

South Korean food manufacturing giant „CJ CheilJedang Corporation“ and Germany's „CJ Europe“ are suing „Kauno grūdai“, a company controlled by Lithuanian agri-food group „Akola group“, to ban it from selling the additive in animal feed. 

The companies are asking the court to prohibit „Kauno grūdai“ from marketing, storing and otherwise distributing feed additives bearing the EU trademark "Best Amino“" throughout the EU and the countries of the European Economic Area without the consent of the „CJ CheilJedang Corporation“, according to a February 19 ruling by the Lithuanian Court of Appeal. 

The companies are also asking for an order to „Kauno grūdus“ to destroy all the packaging of these additives in its possession and handed over to third parties, as well as for an award of EUR 370,000 in damages. 

The South Korean company argued before the court that it is the world leader in the market for amino acids in poultry, livestock and fish feed and the only one offering all the main L-amino acids on the market, which are obtained by environmentally friendly microbial fermentation. 

„Kauno grūdai“ requested that the action be dismissed and that „CJ CheilJedang Corporation“ be ordered to pay a security of EUR 9,500 for the company's potential legal costs.

On 19 February, the Lithuanian Court of Appeals granted „Kauno grūdų“'s request and did not change the decision of the Vilnius Regional Court of November last year.