The court's decision allows Chicken Slice to continue using the word in its marketing campaigns, marking a significant victory for the company. The legal battle between the two rivals highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and avoiding confusion among consumers.

Innscor Africa Limited, the parent company of Chicken Inn, had filed a lawsuit against Slice Distributors, the company behind Chicken Slice, alleging that its trademark was being infringed upon. 

Chicken Inn claimed that Chicken Slice's use of the word "luv" in its Slice and Burger trademark, which reads "l luv it," was a theft of one of the key characters of its own trademark. 

Additionally, Chicken Inn argued that Chicken Slice's color scheme resembled its own, causing confusion among consumers.

The Court's Ruling

Justice Sylvia-Chirawu Mugomba, who presided over the case, ruled that Chicken Inn did not have exclusive rights to the word "luv" and that consumers would not be confused by the two products. She noted that while the word "luv" appeared in Chicken Slice's "burger" mark, it did not appear in Chicken Slice's overall trademark. Justice Mugomba concluded that the marks used by the two companies were not similar enough to cause confusion among customers.

Appeal and Supreme Court Decision

Following the initial ruling, Innscor Africa filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to challenge the decision. The Supreme Court ultimately reversed Justice Mugomba's judgment and ordered Chicken Slice to cease using the word "luv" with immediate effect. The specific details of the court's decision were not disclosed during the reading of the judgment.

Implications and Past Legal Battles

The trademark dispute between Chicken Inn and Chicken Slice is not the first legal battle for Innscor Africa. In 2012, the company sued Takesure Mbano for trademark infringement when he planned to launch a fast-food chain called Chickenza Inn, Creamy Chickenza, and Pizza Chickenza, which Innscor argued resembled its own brand.

Chicken Inn's victory in the trademark dispute against Chicken Slice highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the business world. The court's ruling recognizes that the word "luv" is not exclusive to Chicken Inn and that consumers are unlikely to confuse the two brands. 

This decision serves as a reminder to companies to be vigilant in protecting their trademarks and to consumers to be discerning when distinguishing between similar products.