Trademark cases: Amanusa

A high court judge has ordered a property developer to change the name of its yet-to-becompleted private housing project, ruling that the name was likely to dilute the brand of one of the world’s most exclusive resorts.

Justice Tay Yong Kwang ruled that Novelty Pte Ltd should change the name of the Amanusa, a 36-unit terrace project in Yio Chu Kang Drive, as it was too similar to one of the resorts owned by luxurious chain Amanresorts.

The Singapore-based resort sued Novelty last month for trademark infringement, saying the name was similar to that of its resort in Bali and would confuse customers.

Sixteen of the 18 Amanresorts properties around the world, in places such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, begin with the word "Aman".