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…

In Standard Essential Patent (SEP) disputes, especially those involving FRAND terms, confidentiality clubs play a vital role. They protect sensitive commercial data, such as licensing agreements, royalty rates, and negotiation records while allowing full and fair disclosure before the court. By restricting access to authorized counsels and experts, confidentiality clubs ensure that proprietary information is…

The Delhi High Court’s Division Bench recently examined the issue of transnational trademark protection in The Trustees of Princeton University v. The Vagdevi Educational Society & Ors (Vagdevi) FAO(OS) (COMM) 239/2023. The case was brought by the Princeton University before the IP Division of the Delhi High Court. Princeton University alleged trademark infringement on account…

The question whether cross examination is a discretionary remedy or a substantive right has come up before the Delhi High Court in context of post-grant oppositions filed against Novartis by three different Respondents with Controller General of Patents being pleaded as Respondent no 1, a) Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) b) Micro Labs Limited and c)…

G.B. Pachaiyappan and others, as plaintiffs, approached the Madras High Court against Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and others, the defendants, alleging trademark infringement, copyright violation, and passing off, among other claims. Alongside the main suit, the plaintiffs also moved for interim relief by way of an injunction. This article examines the arguments presented by both parties…