Organization NewsAre you U.S. Court of Appeals Upholds Trademark Injunction in Favor of CFA Institute

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CFA Institute announced today that the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of CFA Institute in a federal trademark case against the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (Icfai), thus upholding a 1998 injunction against Icfai that prohibits their use of all CFA Institute trademarks and confusingly similar trademarks in the U.S and Canada.

Charlottesville, Va., January 16, 2009 – CFA Institute announced today that the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of CFA Institute in a federal trademark case against the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (Icfai), thus upholding a 1998 injunction against Icfai that prohibits their use of all CFA Institute trademarks and confusingly similar trademarks in the U.S and Canada.

In 2006, Icfai challenged the 1998 injunction alleging that the U.S. federal district court judge did not have personal jurisdiction over Icfai at the time of the original judgment. The three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that in fact, the district court judge did have jurisdiction over Icfai since it “purposefully transacted business” with CFA Institute in Virginia. As a result, Icfai is required to abide by the 1998 injunction and its 1995 agreement to stop using CFA Institute trademarks and confusingly similar trademarks in the U.S. and Canada.

“We are pleased to see the court rule in our favor and hold Icfai accountable to the 1998 ruling,” said Bob Johnson, CFA, deputy CEO of CFA Institute. “The judgment protects current CFA charterholders, candidates in our CFA Program, and those who work with these individuals. We will continue to vigorously protect the integrity of the CFA designation and what it stands for globally.”

About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association for investment professionals. It administers the CFA and CIPM curriculum and exam programs worldwide; publishes research; conducts professional development programs; and sets voluntary, ethics-based professional and performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. CFA Institute has 100,000 members, who include the world’s 86,700 CFA charterholders, in 133 countries and territories, as well as 136 affiliated professional societies in 57 countries and territories

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