Parade back on streets

re-launched it amid a bitter trademark wrangle with Kenako Media.
Kenako Media claims ZPH had been publishing without registering the trademark “Parade”.
Kenako argues that it was the sole owners of the trademark and that ZPH had no right to use the name.

ZPH on the other hand contends that it took over from Thompson Publications and that the magazine had created a good name since 1953.

It argues that Kenako wants to unjustly benefit from the goodwill created by the magazine since 1953.

The two companies were set to launch their magazines on December 1 with the same name but they had to stop pending determination of a High Court urgent chamber application filed by Kenako Media.

Justice Ben Hlatshwayo referred the parties to the Registrar of Trademarks who would decide the owner of the trademark.

While the Registrar of Trademarks was yet to make a decision, ZPH published its first issue yesterday.

ZPH stopped publishing in 2004 due to financial challenges.
Kenako Media recently registered the same trademark with the Registrar of Trademarks.
Kenako Media lawyer Mr Nelson Mashizha of Takundwa and Company said he was still waiting for the decision of the Trademarks Registrar.

“The judge referred our case to the Registrar of Trademarks. If any of us is not satisfied with the registrar’s decision, he or she may go back to the High Court to contest. We are still waiting for the decision and we expect to be called by the registrar. It is actually news to us that the magazine is already out,” said Mr Mashizha.

The magazine’s general manager Ms Rejoice Nharaunda yesterday said the publication was simply a continuation from where the company left.

“We have been publishing since 1953 and no court of law has barred us from doing so. We stopped in 2004 and decided to resume today,” said Ms Nharaunda.

Ms Nharaunda said the news and lifestyle magazine would be sold at an introductory cost of US$2. “We have been restructuring and re-oiling our wagon. We lay dormant since 2004 but we are now ready to roll,” she said.

Ms Nharaunda said the magazine was re-issued a licence by the Zimbabwe Media Commission in 2011.

She said the 84-page magazine had started with a print-run of 25 000 adding that they were targeting the 100 000 copies per month it reached at its peak. “The success of Parade now, as that of the 1950s through to the early 2000, is a function of a lively and helpful critical readership that contributes ideas and constructive criticism for continuous improvement of a product that they know is theirs.”