Claro sues ClaroCom for USD150 million in brand name dispute

BNamericas is reporting that Claro Panama, a subsidiary of Mexican telephony group America Movil, is suing local operator ClaroCom for USD150 million in damages, over the similiarity of the company’s name. Citing local news source Capital Financiero, the report indicates that the lawsuit was presented on 3 September against Galaxy Communications, ClaroCom’s parent company. America Movil is arguing that the business name Claro was registered by itself in Panama in 1998, and despite the fact the operator only won its licence to start operations this year it claims Galaxy’s use of the name prevents marketing under the Claro brand that the group uses throughout most of its Latin American operations; Galaxy entered the market in 2003, offering services under the ClaroLine, ClaroNet, ClaroLite, ClaroCall and ClaroChat banners.