S i g n i s I n d i a

MANILA, August 10, 2008—The tussle among members of Couples for Christ has not ended after a year it got divided.

Now the bone of contention among the two groups is about the “name tag,” making the matter a “legal battle” in a court.

Couples for Christ Inc., the outgrowth of a religious movement that began in the Philippines in the 1981, has sued four organizations that use its name for trademark infringement.

The Couples for Christ chapter based in West Palm Beach, Florida, has three registered US trademarks, including “Couples for Christ,” “CFC,” and a stylized cross design.

The organization provides educational services and religious and relationship counseling to couples and individuals, according to the Aug. 1 complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, said a Bloomberg report.

Couples for Christ USA of Renton, Washington; Couples for Christ-Nor Cal, of Modesto, California; and Couples for Christ USA Southern California are all accused of infringing on the trademarks.

Couples for Christ Inc. says it repeatedly asked the defendants to quit using the marks, but they have repeatedly refused, court papers said.

The organization asked the court to order the defendants to quit using the marks, and for unspecified money damages. It is asking that the damages be tripled to punish the defendants for their acts of infringement.

Edward Schwartz, Thomas Daily and Steven Lauridsen of Pasadena, California’s Christie, Parker & Hale represent Couples for Christ.

Earlier this year, the Couples for Christ was rocked by an internal dispute that spilled over to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the courts in the Philippines.

The dispute pit the Couples for Christ Foundation Inc. of Frank Padilla against the Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation identified with Gawad Kalinga’s Tony Meloto.

While the SEC ruled in favor of Padilla’s group, Meloto’s camp vowed to take the case all the way to the Supreme Court. (Santosh Digal)