The trademark dispute between Jambo Construction, a long-standing leader in Ethiopia’s business and real estate sector, and Jenboro Real Estate, a newer competitor, has reached the Federal First Instance Court.
Jambo Construction filed a lawsuit alleging, “My name and trademark have been imitated, resulting in a loss of 1 million birr.” In response, Jenboro Real Estate submitted its defense to the Commercial and Investment Bench, arguing that the lawsuit is “legally baseless and barred by the statute of limitations.”
The case, which has drawn significant attention to property rights within Ethiopia’s expanding real estate sector, centers on the claim that the name “Jenboro” is phonetically and orthographically too similar to the well-established “Jambo” brand.
Founded in 1996, Jambo Construction states that it has built a reputation over nearly three decades in the construction and real estate industries. The plaintiff seeks protection for its trademark, which is registered with the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority under international classes 36 and 37.
According to Jambo’s lawsuit, the defendant’s use of the name “Jenboro Real Estate ” in the same line of business creates confusion “in sound, spelling, and intonation” with its registered brand. Jambo further alleged that this “brand hijacking” has confused both the media and the public, leading to a financial loss of 1 million Birr.
In a detailed response recently submitted to the court, Jenboro Real Estate presented a strong defense and called for the dismissal of the charges. The defendant’s lawyers raised a preliminary objection based on the statute of limitations.
Jenboro noted that it obtained its business license and entered the real estate sector in 2020. While the plaintiff filed its claim for compensation in 2024/25, the defendant argued that under the Civil Code, claims for damages must be filed within two years of the alleged harm occurring. Since Jenboro has been using the name for over six years, they contend that the claim is time-barred.
Additionally, Jenboro argued that the plaintiff only registered the trademarks “Jambo” and “Jambo + Image.” They asserted that a lawsuit cannot be brought over a trademark that has not been explicitly registered, citing a binding precedent from the Federal Supreme Court Cassation Division.
Regarding the meaning and origin of the names, the defendant explained that “Jenboro” has its own deep significance. It is an indigenous name rooted in the owners’ birthplace—specifically, the name of a village and a school in the Gumer Woreda of the Gurage Zone in Southern Ethiopia, meaning “Sun” or “Light.”
In contrast, the defendant argued that the plaintiff’s name, “Jambo,” is neither Amharic nor Gurage but a Swahili word meaning “Peace” or “Hello.” Therefore, the two names share no linguistic relationship or connection in meaning.
Visually, Jenboro pointed out that its logo consists of seven letters, includes the slogan “Enter on Time,” and features a “J” symbol. In comparison, the Jambo logo has five letters and its own distinct imagery, making the two clearly distinguishable.
The defendant further contended that because purchasing real estate requires significant capital and a high level of caution, buyers are “prudent” consumers who thoroughly investigate a developer’s identity, credibility, track record, and contract details. Such consumers are unlikely to make a purchase based solely on a similarity in names.
Finally, Jenboro Real Estate claimed that the plaintiff’s lawsuit was filed in bad faith with the intent to eliminate a competitor from the market.
Accordingly, the defendant has requested that the court dismiss the 1 million Birr compensation claim, rule that its trade name and trademark do not resemble the plaintiff’s, and order the plaintiff to cover the defendant’s legal fees and other expenses. The court’s final decision on the matter is still pending.
