The world's largest manufacturer and distributor of microprocessors filed a cluster of writs in the High Court yesterday seeking an injunction to stop six Hong-Kong based companies cashing in on its name and reputation.
American-based Intel Corporation claims it has suffered damages because the businesses illegally adopted 'Intel' in their company name, the writs state.
The companies involved are: Intel Commerce Asia Limited, Intelink Technology Limited, Intel-United (International) Limited, Inte-link Network Limited, Intel Wave Technologies Limited and Intell Union Enterprises Company Limited.
Intel also alleges the companies made a calculated and deliberate reference to Intel to confuse consumers into thinking the businesses were associated with the chip giant. Intel's goods have been on sale in Hong Kong for 30 years, with its processors used in a wide range of devices including personal computers, gaming devices and mobile communications.
Intel also claims the name Intel is a badge 'by which the purchasing public and trade associates the quality and technical excellence that are the identifying features of the plaintiff's Intel products'.
The corporation is seeking an injunction to stop the six companies passing themselves off as being linked to the plaintiff, as well as an order that they change their company names to exclude references to Intel.
