EXCLUSIVE

An Indian restaurant has won a High Court injunction against a rival it claims is a copycat.

Rochester's award-winning Shozna says nearby Shopna has duplicated its menu, mirrored its distinctive logo and produced almost identical takeaway bags.

Now a judge has waded into the argy bhaji and ordered Shopna must change its name and stop copying Shozna's trademark materials.

Shozna, in Maidstone Road, has been established for 15 years and is a former Medway Restaurant of the Year.

Rival curry house Shopna, a takeaway that previously traded as Spice 2020, opened in Orion Road, Rochester, in February.

There is only a mile separating the two restaurants, but it was their similarities that led Shozna proprietor Jamal Ahmed to take legal action.

He said he is particularly disappointed an attempt has been made to match his trademark oval-shaped logo, featuring the sister his restaurant is named after.

An interim High Court injunction was issued by Mr Justice Morgan last week.
Mr Ahmed's solicitor George Crofton-Martin said: "Mr Ahmed is all for competition, provided it is fair.

"What is objected to is the way the defendants went about setting up their business, trying to springboard on the back of Shozna's hard-earned reputation to gain a head start."

Mr Ahmed, who has won international food awards and also has a restaurant in Strood High Street, said: "It was very costly taking Shopna to court, but my reputation was being ruined as people were confusing my restaurant with Shopna. I feel very angry about it."

Shopna proprietor Tufael Chowdhury said it was never his intention to copy Shozna.

He said: "Shozna refers to Mr Ahmed's sister and Shopna means dream, which is completely different. They have made it all up, because if we had copied them, everything we did would have been exactly the same as Shozna."

But Mr Chowdhury said he will comply with the High Court order and is in the process of changing his logos and menus to Moiyuree, the new name for his restaurant.

Mr Ahmed is seeking court costs from Shopna.