Computer name tussle heads for High Court

By DANIEL RIORDAN

A protracted dispute over trademarks between listed technology company Advantage Group and Palmerston North-based Advantage Computers remains headed for the High Court.

The parties were in court yesterday over an issue which both said was peripheral to the main dispute. A ruling was adjourned to December 6.

Advantage Computers registered proceedings against Advantage Group and two of its subsidiaries in the High Court at Auckland a year ago.

It claimed to be the registered proprietor since the mid-80s of the trademark Advantage for computer hardware, software and services.

Advantage Group was registered in August 1980 under the name Weightronic Systems (NZ) Ltd, changed to Weightronic Corporation in 1993, and Advantage HDS Group in November 1994.

Advantage Computers was incorporated under its name in November 1986. It has threatened to take action under trademark legislation against other computer-related companies with Advantage names.

Advantage Group chief executive Greg Cross said yesterday that he remained hopeful of resolving the dispute without going to trial, but either way he looked forward to a speedy resolution.

Advantage Computers chief executive Mark Ward said he was pleased the court was finally getting close to setting a trial date.