Can you question novelty of design as a defence to infringement action? What is the impact of defendant seeking registration of a design and later claiming it lacks novelty? These among other issues were subject of dispute between two helmet manufacturers both claiming registration for their respective designs. The Plaintiff, Vega Auto Accessories (P) Ltd…

This post discusses the tussle between two well established pharmaceutical companies in relation to trademark being used on a diabetic drug. The Plaintiff, Sun Pharma Laboratories Ltd, (Sun) filed the action before the Delhi High Court against Lupin Limited (Lupin) and another alleging trademark infringement, passing off, etc. Sun filed the suit to safeguard its…

The Delhi High Court’s recent decision determining infringement of the Patent owned by Philips that were declared as Standard-Essential Patent (SEP) by European Patent office and US. Thus axiomatically an essential Patent in India has been widely welcomed by other SEP holders. The suit concerned DVD video player technology over which Philips has claimed Patent….

The parties are at loggerheads over use of family name PATIL in relation to fragrance business. The first round of litigation was before the District court, Bengalaru and the parties have now approached Karnataka High Court (at Bengaluru) in appeal. The appeal has been preferred by Somashekar P. Patil (Som) aggrieved by exparte injunction being…

While luxury brands are increasingly entering the Indian market, proving India’s potential as a destination for luxury products, they face some formidable challenges, including high import duties, lack of quality retails space and the ever-present threat of counterfeiting In the past decade, Indian consumer purchasing power and appetite for luxury products has surged. The number…

The parties are squabbling over design rights in metal tube primarily used in air-conditioners.  The design infringement and passing off claim is brought by Mandev Tubes Private Limited (MTPL) against Mr Kalpesh Jain (KJ) for using metal/copper tube with identical design. The single judge of Bombay High Court on hearing the parties granted an injunction…

While Christian Louboutin had a favourable decision from European Court of Justice (ECJ), in similar circumstances, the High Court of Delhi dismissed its claim of exclusivity in the red colour for shoe sole on the ground that a single colour cannot be granted protection as a trademark.  The ruling came in the context of a…

VAC-PAC derived from the words Vacuum Packaging or Vacuum Pack was bone of contention between the parties dealing in welding electrodes. The Plaintiff, SuperonSchweisstechnik India Limited (Superon) filed a passing off action against the Defendant, Modi Hitech India Ltd (MHIL) seeking reliefs of injunction, delivery up, rendition of accounts and damages for use of the…

Can Goldsmith be confused for Blacksmith? The issue came up before the court in the context of a trademark infringement and passing off action brought by Jaideep Mohan (JM) against HUB International Industries (HUB). JM on the basis of its registered trademark BLACKSMITH for alcoholic beverages sought restraint order against HUB’s GOLDSMITH. JM’s case: They…

In a recently decided post grant opposition filed by M/s GuanGXI LIUGONG MACHINERY CO. LTD against, J.C. Bamford Excavators Ltd.’s (herein after called JCB) patent (no. 251037) relating to an excavating and loading machine, the Controller of Patents  revoked the Patent for failure on part of the Patentee to timely provide the details of corresponding…