Court rules in favor of ORT Israel in dispute between local, world brands

By EHUD ZION WALDOKS
Haifa District Court Deputy President Gideon Ginat ruled mostly in favor of ORT Israel in its year and a half long legal dispute with World ORT last week. Ginat ruled that ORT Israel had the exclusive right to use the name ORT and its symbol within Israel. At the same time, he pointed out that World ORT could continue to run and fund programs under that name in Israel and continue to refer to itself as ORT outside the boundaries of the country. Ginat also ordered World ORT to cover the legal expenses of ORT Israel which amounted to NIS 146,000 plus VAT. ORT Israel operates a network of schools in Israel while World ORT operates a network of Jewish schools throughout the world and certain specific technological programs in Israel.