Spanish
Santo Domingo.– Dominican merengue singer Kinito Méndez announced this Monday that he has initiated legal action against the company Premium Colombia S.A.S. and its president, Álvaro Galeano, for the improper use of the name Rikarena, a group he founded and popularized in the 90s.
The lawsuit was filed before the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce of Colombia, for alleged unfair competition and infringement of industrial property rights. According to Méndez explained in a statement, the company in question has created an alternative group with two former members —Axel and Luis Manuel— which is promoted under the name “Los Originales de Rikarena”, which he considers an act of deception towards the public.You may be interested in: ¿Future senator? Kinito Méndez says he will consider entering politics
“Everyone knows who the true founding members of Rikarena were: Henry, Shiro, Guarionex and Wester. What they are doing is a strategy to confuse the public,” pointed out the artist, known as “The Merengue Man”. Kinito also accused Galeano of trying to register the name Rikarena in Colombia without legal authorization, and of using images and materials from the original group to promote parties and concerts in that country. He stated that his team has had to deny several of these events on social media to prevent fans from being deceived. "They are making people believe that is our group, which is not true. That's why we have decided to take the case to court," the artist pointed out.
