Financial Times

PABC, HSBC clash over logo
PABC Bank, formerly Pan Asia Bank, has got into a dispute with the multi-national HSBC over the use of a new logo. PABC Bank, after its facelift last October, has sent a new logo for registration to the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO), after HSBC complained to the Central Bank about the similarities of the logo to its own.

"We have reported about this to the relevant authorities (Central Bank) and also to PABC," an HSBC official said. HSBC is now awaiting a response from them. "Anyone can use a logo without registering, but if there is an issue, priority will be given to the company which has a registered logo," a senior official at the NIPO said.

Analysts said the two logos have a stark resemblance to each other and may serve to elevate PABC's image in the market. A senior official at PABC vehemently denied the accusation about the similarities saying that, if at all, the resemblance may be due to the colours.

Both the banks have red and white colours in their logos. "The colours are 'generic' and no one can own colours," he said, adding that any firm can use these colours.

Marketing analysts said the logos are so similar that HSBC customers can be misled. However, HSBC said since they have a long history in the country this is not likely with the existing customers, but new customers could be affected.

"The company logo has been in the country for more than a decade, and HSBC is well established, but there is a threat in acquiring new customers," the HSBC official said.

PABC refutes this as well. "HSBC mainly caters to the 'elite' class," the PABC official said, explaining that there is a very slim chance of these customers mistaking PABC for HSBC due to the colours.

He also denied that new customers will be misled, saying "yet again the new segments are also elite with a high brand awareness." PABC logo has a red globe with two red arrows at either side facing outward, in a white background.

"The arrows depict two doors portraying opening the doors of the globe to the customers," the official said. HSBC has an elongated red hexagon which is an agglomeration of three symbols that signify the national flag of Scotland to portray the Scottish origin of its founder Thomas Sutherland, the red colour symbolising China, and the triangles at the side symbolising the bank being "open for business".

Back to Business