CCP Fines Local Auditing Company Rs. 50 Lac Over Fake Branding

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has imposed a Rs. 5 million penalty on MCI-Bureau of Inspection & Certifications Pakistan for fraudulently using a trademark and logo closely resembling that of Bureau Veritas, a France-based global testing, inspection, and certification company.

The case was initiated after Bureau Veritas filed a complaint alleging that MCI-Bureau of Inspection & Certifications Pakistan and its UK-affiliated entity had adopted a deceptively similar trade name and logo that could mislead customers into believing their services were associated with the internationally recognized company.

After reviewing the evidence, the Commission concluded that the respondent had copied the dominant features of Bureau Veritas’ registered trademark, including the word “Bureau” and other distinctive elements. It ruled that the overall similarity created a misleading impression and amounted to fraudulent use of another company’s trademark under Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010.

The CCP said differences in the color scheme were not enough to distinguish the two logos, particularly because inspection reports and certification documents are often reproduced in black and white, where consumers are unlikely to compare competing logos side by side.

The Commission further found that MCI-Bureau was aware of Bureau Veritas’ established reputation. It noted that the company’s decision to withdraw its trademark registration application after receiving a show cause notice strengthened the conclusion that it recognized the similarity between the two marks.

The regulator also found that the respondent failed to demonstrate the technical expertise, accreditation, and competence required to provide specialized inspection and certification services.

It added that the firm’s subsequent business, Inspect Assure, also lacked credible evidence of the necessary accreditation, raising the risk of misleading customers.

In addition to the financial penalty, the CCP directed the company to immediately stop using Bureau Veritas’ trademark, adopt a clearly distinguishable brand identity, obtain the required accreditation before offering certification services, and submit a compliance report within 60 days, warning that failure to comply could result in further penalties.

The Commission said the decision aims to protect consumers and legitimate businesses from deceptive practices while preserving confidence in Pakistan’s testing, inspection, and certification industry, which plays a critical role in supporting businesses, exporters, and investors.