'World famous in NZ' trademark fight

A Paeroa man is trying to stop drinks giant Coca-Cola trademarking the phrase "World Famous in New Zealand".

Coca-Cola Amatil wants to trademark the slogan which promotes its L&P, or Lemon and Paeroa, soft drink, but faces opposition from Tony Coombe, who previously co-owned and ran the L&P Cafe in Paeroa, and owns a non-trading company named World Famous in New Zealand, The Dominion Post reported.

At an Intellectual Property Office hearing in Auckland yesterday, Mr Coombe said he believed the phrase was a "Kiwi-ism" and belonged to all New Zealanders.

But Coca-Cola said the words were clearly connected to its product and the trademark application should proceed.

Coca-Cola said that its advertising agency invented the slogan in 1993. A commissioner's decision is expected in six to eight weeks.

- NZPA