Intellectual Property Rights | A quick view of top Intellectual Property cases from July and August 2024

A quick recap of top Intellectual Property cases on sale of counterfeit copies of EBC’s books, Nizam’s trade mark, Mankind v. Mercykind, Adidas, L’Oréal, Electronica, and more.

Intellectual Property Rights Roundup

Counterfeit copies of EBC books

In a suit filed by Eastern Book Company (‘EBC’), seeking urgent interim relief against sale of counterfeit copies of its books, and ex-parte appointment of Local Commissioners, Sanjeev Narula, J. restrained the defendants from manufacturing, publishing, offering for sale, advertising, using, exporting, printing, directly or indirectly selling or dealing in products, including, but not limited to books under the trade marks ‘EBC’ and ‘Eastern Book Company’. Read more

Nizam’s v. Andaaz-E-Nizaam

In a suit filed to seek removal/rectification of the trade mark ‘ANDAAZ-E-NIZAAM’ registered in the name of respondent 1, for being deceptively similar and identical to the trademark of the petitioner, i.e., ‘NIZAM’S’, a Single Judge Bench of Mini Pushkarna, J. directed respondent 1 to take appropriate steps for changing their trade name and the Registrar of Trade Marks to remove/cancel the registered trade mark in favour of respondent 1 as well as to rectify the Register within four weeks. Read more

Associate Managers of Trade Marks Registry

In a batch of three appeals filed under Section 91 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (‘Act’) against orders dated 16-09-2023 and 06-10-2023 passed by the Associate Managers of Trade Marks Registry, a Single Judge Bench of Krishna Rao, J. quashed and set aside the orders passed by the Associate Managers and held that since they were appointed under Section 3(2), hence, were not empowered to pass quasi-judicial orders. Read more

Mankind v. Mercykind

An appeal was filed by Mankind Pharma Limited (plaintiff) challenging the Single Judge’s order dated 06-07-2018, which was refused to grant a temporary injunction to restrain the respondent from using the trade name “Mercykind Pharmaceuticals Private Limited”. A division bench of Yashwant Varma and Davinder Dudeja, JJ., set aside the impugned order, finding that the refusal to grant an injunction was erroneous due to the likelihood of consumer confusion between “Mankind” and “Mercykind,” and directed a fresh consideration of the injunction application, with all parties’ rights and contentions preserved and expedited proceedings scheduled for 27-08-2024. Read more

Performance of Musical works at weddings, Religious Ceremonies

Petitioner, Phonographic Performance Limited filed the present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking quashing and setting aside of the impugned Circular dated 30-01-2024 issued by Respondent 1, which stated that the performance of musical works etc., at religious ceremonies, including weddings did not amount to violation of the Copyright Act, 1957 (‘the Act’). The Division Bench of M.S. Karnik* and Valmiki Menezes, JJ., opined that respondents entered into the realm of interpretation of Section 52(1)(za) which was the domain of the competent Court to determine in the facts and circumstances of each case. The Court held that the impugned Circular was illegal and bad in law and thus, the impugned Circular dated 30-01-2024 issued by Respondent 1 was quashed and set aside. Read more

Falcon Autotech’s Patent ‘An Integrated Pre-Sortation System’

In a suit filed by Falcon Autotech Private Limited, the plaintiff, alleging infringement of its patent titled ‘An Integrated Pre-Sortation System’ and seeking permanent and mandatory injunction, rendition of accounts, damages, and delivery up against the defendant, a Chinese entity, Mini Pushkarna, J., found a prima facie case in favour of the plaintiff due to blatant patent infringement and the clandestine operations of the defendant in India, and accordingly restrained the defendant from infringing upon the plaintiff’s patent. Read more

‘ADIDAS’ trade mark

Delhi High Court grants permanent injunction to Adidas AG in suit filed for infringement of ‘ADIDAS’ trade mark

In a suit filed by Adidas AG (‘Adidas’) to secure their rights against the use of an identical mark by the defendants for various classes of goods, including textiles, a Single Judge Bench of Sanjeev Narula, J. granted permanent injunction to Adidas and restrained the defendants from manufacturing, trading, selling, marketing, offering for sale or dealing in any way in textile piece goods under the ‘Adidas’ marks or any other marks deceptively similar to Adidas’ marks. Read more

Interim injunction to Dr. Reddy

Delhi High Court grants interim injunction to Dr. Reddy’s in suit filed to restrain violation of trade mark “REBAHEAL”

In a suit filed by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited (‘Dr. Reddy’s’) seeking permanent injunction to restrain violation and infringement of trade mark, passing off, unfair trade competition, damages, rendition of accounts, dilution, delivery up, etc., a Single Judge Bench of Mini Pushkarna, J. held that Dr. Reddy’s would suffer irreparable loss and injury in case interim relief was not granted in his favor, and restrained the defendants from using the impugned trade mark or any other mark deceptively similar to “Rebaheal”. Read more

L’Oréal’s plea for cancellation of mark

Delhi HC dismisses L’Oréal’s plea for cancellation of mark ‘CLARIWASH’ registered with a proprietor

The present appeal was filed for challenging impugned judgement dated 23-03-2023 passed by the Single Judge, whereby appellant’s application for cancellation the trade mark ‘CLARIWASH’ (‘impugned trade mark’) was rejected on the ground that respondent 1 was not at fault for an error committed by the Registrar of the Trade Marks in issuing the faulty examination report. The Division Judge Bench of Vibhu Bakhru* and Tara Vitasta Ganju, JJ., without interfering with the impugned judgment, held that there was no dispute, when the registration of the trade mark was contrary to the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (‘the Act’) and the same should be liable to be cancelled. However, in the case in hand, the Court was unable to accept that the respondent 1’s application for registration of the impugned mark was required to be rejected. The Court found no grounds for interfering with the impugned judgment. Thus, appeal was, accordingly, dismissed. Read more

“JINDAL” mark

Delhi High Court grants interim injunction in favour of Jindal India Limited for infringement of its “JINDAL” marks

A suit was filed by Jindal India Limited (plaintiff) for infringement of trademark/copyright in the marks “JINDAL”, “” and “JINDAL with the device of map of India” for goods of the plaintiff, passing off goods, delivery upon, rendition of accounts of profits, along with further damages. Mini Pushkarna, J., directed that the defendant, their principal officers, directors, partners, agents, franchisees, servants, licensees and all others acting for and on and on their behalf are restrained from making, selling, offering for sale, advertising and in any manner dealing or any other similar, allied cognate goods using the trademark and copyright “ ” or any other mark/name which is identical or deceptively similar to the plaintiff/applicant’s registered trademark “JINDAL”, “JINDAL with the device of map of India”/ “ ” and any other similar variants from doing any other activities whereby directly or indirectly infringing the plaintiff/applicant’s registered Trademarks and Copyrights “JINDAL”, “JINDAL with the device of map of India”/ “” and any other similar variants. Read more

Trade Mark Application for “ELECTRONICA”

Calcutta High Court directs Senior Examiner of Trademark to pass Speaking Order on rejection of Trade Mark Application for “ELECTRONICA”

In an appeal filed under Section 91 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 after being aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned order dated 14-02-2024 that was passed by the Senior Examiner of Trade Marks (‘Senior Examiner’) (respondent 2) wherein the Trade Mark application under Class 9 for registration of trade mark ‘ELECTRONICA’ was rejected, a Single Judge Bench of Krishna Rao, J. set aside the impugned order, and remanded the matter back to respondent 2 since the order was passed after a year from the date of hearing and without allowing the appellant to make a proper submission. Read more

Trade Mark infringement in execution petition

Can the Court pass orders for trademark infringement in an execution petition? Delhi HC answers

In a petition filed by the Glaxo Group (‘Glaxo’) (decree holders) for execution of a decree passed in a suit for infringement of trademark by the defendant, Jasmeet Singh, J, while restraining defendants from infringing upon Glaxo’s trade mark, held that the Court in an execution petition could arrive at a finding that the products of the judgment-debtors were similar and infringing the trademark of the decree-holders, in order to execute the decree of injunction, and can pass orders subsequently, so as to give effect to the decree. Read more

Kamal Hassan starrer movie ‘GUNAA’

Madras High Court stops re-release of Kamal Hassan starrer movie ‘GUNAA’ due to copyright infringement claims

In an Original Application filed to grant an order of ad-interim injunction restraining Pyramid Audio India Pvt Ltd. (‘Pyramid Audio’), their men, agents, servants or persons acting on their behalf, from in any manner exhibiting and exploiting the copyrights of the film ‘GUNAA’ starring Kamal Hassan and others, music by Ilaiyaraja and directed by Santhana Bharathi, pending disposal of the suit , P. Velmurugan, J. has granted ad-interim injunction in favour of the applicant and directed him to comply with Order XXXIX Rule 3(a) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Read more

Saregama’ s copyright on song ‘Udi Jab Jab Zulfein’

Delhi High Court directs Emami Ltd. to deposit Rs. 10 Lakhs for infringing Saregama India’s copyright on song ‘Udi Jab Jab Zulfein’

In an application filed by Saregama India Ltd. (‘Saregama’) against Emami Ltd. (‘Emami’) under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2 read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (‘CPC’) for the grant of interim injunction, a Single Judge Bench of Mini Pushkarna, J. directed Emami to deposit Rs. 10 Lakhs with the Registry of the Court within two weeks and stated that this was only an interim arrangement and that the Court would consider upon further hearing whether the amount to be deposited should be varied. Read more

Tesla v. Tesla

[Tesla v. Tesla] Delhi High Court refers trade mark dispute between Tesla Inc and Tesla Power India to mediation

In a suit filed by Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc. (‘Tesla’) against Tesla Power India Private Limited (‘defendants’) seeking permanent and mandatory injunction and damages for infringement of trade marks, passing off and unfair trade competition under Section 134(1) read with Sections 27 and 29 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, Mini Pushkarna, J., referred the matter to mediation before the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre. Read more

Code of Conduct to regulate Patent & Trade Mark agents

Delhi High Court directs formation of Code of Conduct to regulate Patent and Trade Mark agents; sets aside abandonment order of patent application

In a petition filed by the petitioner to challenge the abandonment of its patent application titled ‘Blind-Stitch Sewing Machine and Method of Blind Stitching’ and to restore the said application, a Single Judge Bench of Pratibha M. Singh, J. held that this was a clear case of misconduct and intentional negligence by the patent agent and directed the formation of a Code of Conduct for trade mark and patent agents. Read more

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