Imagine launching a brand, clearing examination, and even seeing your trademark published, only for the Trade Marks Registry to change its mind months later. That’s exactly what happened in Ashim Kumar Ghosh v. Registrar of Trade Marks (2025). The Delhi High Court’s decision to protect the trademark ‘SoEasy’ marks a broader shift in how Indian…

Introduction This appeal before the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court arose from an interim injunction order passed by the Commercial Court-13, Central District, Tis Hazari, Delhi, in a trademark infringement and passing-off action. The dispute concerns the use of the word ‘KARIM’ in the restaurant name GULSHAN-E-KARIM and examines the interplay between trademark…

The Division Bench (DB) of the Karnataka High Court recently delivered a significant ruling in a batch of appeals filed by the Appellant, Mr. Boman Irani and Classic Legends, challenging a common judgment of the Single Judge concerning the assets of Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd., a company under liquidation, and more specifically, the ownership and…

The Bombay High Court recently granted an interim injunction in favour of Petrofer Chemie H.R. Fischer GmbH & Co. KG (“Plaintiff”) in its trademark infringement and passing-off action against United Petrofer Limited (“Defendant”). The order restrains the Defendant from using the mark “UNITED PETROFER,” its corporate name, and the domain unitedpetrofer.com, or any other mark…

Design protection is crucial for businesses that rely on unique product appearances to differentiate themselves from the competitor’s product. The dispute between Relaxo Footwears Ltd. (Relaxo) and Aqualite Industries Pvt. Ltd. (Aqualite) over flip flop slippers (known as ‘hawai slippers’ in India) provides a clear guidance on novelty, prior art and aesthetic appeal of a…

There are strategic intellectual property considerations at every stage of a brand’s development. Ranjan Narula, Aditi Roy Chowdhury, and Simran Singh of RNA, Technology and IP Attorneys outline how startups can take a phased approach. In the life cycle of a startup, few assets are as powerful yet underestimated as intellectual property (IP). Among the…

The Division Bench of the Delhi High Court recently upheld the order of the District Judge, Commercial Court (South), Saket, dismissing Suparshva Swabs India’s plea for an interim injunction against AGN Tulip in an ongoing trademark dispute over the mark “TULIPS.” The plaintiff, proprietor of the registered mark and a long-standing manufacturer of cotton buds…

Bombay High Court vacates ex-parte injunction and imposes exemplary costs for concealment of material facts. The Bombay High Court recently delivered a significant ruling in a trademark dispute involving the mark “DOCTOR EXTRA SOFT”, underscoring that equitable relief cannot be obtained through suppression of material facts. The matter arose from an application filed by Chaitanya…

Background The article summarises an Appeal filed by Wow Momo Foods Pvt. Ltd (WMFPL) against the judgement of the Single Judge of the Delhi High Court whereby it dismissed the injunction application of WMFPL, holding that “WOW” is a common, non-distinctive word. The appellant, WMFPL is the registered proprietor of several trademarks, including “WOW MOMO,”…

C.S No.602 of 2007 – Madras High Court – Date of Decision 3rd September 2025 Background The note discusses final decision of a case, post-trial, brought by Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE), Chennai at the Madras High Court against Standard Corporation India Limited (SCIL), Punjab. TAFE alleged copyright infringement and passing off regarding artistic…