202005.18
16

ISPs and Direct Selling Entities at loggerheads over US$ 1.7 billion opportunity

The Direct Selling Entities (“DSEs”) Amway, Oriflame and Modicare that have a specific business model are embroiled in dispute with leading e-tailers, Amzon, Snapdeal, Cloudtail alleging the sale of their products on e-commerce platforms are unauthorized and without their consent. The Single Judge found in favour of DSEs and passed a common order in interlocutory…

202004.30
16

Building a brand protection strategy in the era of ‘social distancing’

COVID-19 has created an unprecedented crisis resulting in the Indian government clamping down the movement of people, goods, and services. This has impacted every facet of business and has brought consumers attention to its health and well being. With social distancing becoming ‘new normal,’ the impact of coronavirus on brick-and-mortar stores during the lockdown phase…

202004.21
17

Telemedicine becomes reality in India

The new Telemedicine Practice Guidelines enabling Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) to provide healthcare remotely as per Telemedicine guideline were released by NITI Aayog on 25 March 2020. The guideline aims to address challenges faced in providing health care and access to doctors on account of large geographical distances and limited resources in India. As per…

202004.09
16

Chinese Spice Mix or Masala battle reaches Bombay High Court

The parties in the suit are at odds over brand names of spice mixture popularly known as ‘masala’ sold under the name ‘White Chinese Pepper Masala’ and ‘Black Chinese Pepper Masala’. Sky Enterprise (Sky), Plaintiff filed a suit before the Bombay High Court restraining Abaad Masala (AM), Defendant  from using the marks ‘White Chinese Pepper…

202004.07
15

Acquiescence is not silence or inaction

Does use of a trademark post retirement from the partnership business would result in violation of rights? What would constitute acquiescence? These are the two main issues of conflict between the parties in catering business. The Plaintiff, Rajesh Kumar Agarwal & others (Rajesh) filed suit before the Calcutta High Court alleging trademark infringement, passing off…

202004.03
15

Rights over ‘MATRIMONY’ in the digital world

This post discusses on-going battle over ‘MATRIMONY’ marks. The word Matrimony is being offered by Google and used by various third parties along with various prefixes as key words to attract internet traffic as part of Google ‘Adwords’ program (now known as Google Ads). Matrimony.com has objection to such use by parties. The primary issues…

202003.24
15

Peps and Kurlon battle out over ‘No Turn”

Should a prior used mark though used intermittently be given higher threshold and protection than registered mark? The two companies in mattress trade are loggerheads over use of the mark NO TURN. The Plaintiff, Peps Industries Private Limited (Peps) filed the suit alleging trademark infringement and passing off to restrain the Defendant, Kurlon Limited (Kurlon)…

202003.23
16

Rajasthan High Court holds NEERAJ/NIRAJ not similar to NIRAB

Will difference in pronunciation in certain parts of the country leading to phonetic similarity be sufficient to grant an order of injunction? This is the crux of the issue in the instant appeal before the Division Bench (two judge bench) of the High Court of Rajasthan. The Plaintiff, Deepak Vegpro Private Limited (Deepak) filed the…

202003.20
15

Fourth factor in Pharma patent infringement cases

This post analyses the weightage of fourth factor that is ‘public interest’ in granting interim injunction in the pharmaceutical cases in light of an ex parte interim injunction granted in Novartis Ag & Anr vs Sun Pharmaceutical Industries [CS(COMM) 85/2020]. Facts Novartis Ag (hereinafter ‘Novartis’) on the basis of a patent (IN 237430) for their…