This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
On June 12, 2020, Kenya Wine Agencies Ltd (KWAL) received a temporary reprieve in a case filed at the Industrial Property Tribunal against Mount Kenya Breweries Limited (MKBL).
The Tribunal issued a temporary injunction stopping MKBL from using the Kibao Vodka bottles, pending the determination of the case.
KWAL claims that MKBL has been using the Kibao bottle design to package and sell their Sparkler Vodka without a license or consent.
The company argues that it will suffer economic losses if the Sparkler Vodka products that mimic its registered industrial design continue to be sold in the market.
KWAL registered the bottle design in 2018 and received a certificate from the Kenya Industrial Property (KIPI) in 2019.
Kibao Vodka, one of KWAL's flagship brands, was ranked among the Top 100 World Fastest Growing Spirits in the International Wines and Spirits Record (IWSR) rankings.
The hearing date of the case has been set by the Tribunal, subject to any further directions.
