Legal dispute over abbreviation SRF
The Swiss Retail Federation and Swiss Radio and Television have been fighting over the use of the abbreviation SRF at the Bern Commercial Court since Wednesday morning. Shortly after the start, the parties began settlement negotiations.
At the beginning of 2011, Swiss radio and television were merged under one roof. From then on, the organization was called Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen SRF. At the end of 2012, the various television and radio stations were also launched under the SRF brand.
This stunned the Swiss Retail Federation, which has abbreviated itself with the three letters SRF since 2000. The retailers' association filed a complaint. Swiss Radio and Television could have easily found out that the abbreviation SRF was being used by the Swiss Retail Federation, emphasized the plaintiff's lawyer before the Commercial Court on Wednesday. The Swiss Retail Federation had only used the abbreviation SRF informally and sporadically prior to the legal dispute, emphasized the defendant's lawyer. This did not constitute a right to protection of the name. Before the Commercial Court, both sides expressed their willingness to enter into settlement negotiations. Their aim is to settle the dispute out of court. If this is not successful, the court hearing will continue.
The Swiss Retail Federation was founded in 1937 as an association of Swiss department stores. According to its own information, the industry association protects and promotes the interests of medium-sized and large companies in the Swiss retail trade. (SDA)
