India

UNABLE TO REGISTER YOR TRUE BRAND DUE TO PRIOR IDENTICAL REGISTRATIONS? HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO

I think you would agree with me that protecting a brand has become increasingly difficult in this digital era, where originality is becoming a thing of the past. Recently, one of the most frustrating challenges awaiting brand owners at the time of filing a trademark application doesn’t seem to be…


Defending Your Brand: How to Use Social Media and E-Commerce Takedown Requests for Effective Trademark Protection

As brands have begun to increasingly rely on digital platforms to reach and engage with their target audience, the risk of unauthorized use of trademarks and the sale of counterfeit products has also grown. Unauthorized pages and posts on social media can dilute a brand’s goodwill and reputation…


‘Customer of Average Intelligence Test’ in the Digital Age: An Analysis of Mountain Valley Spring India Pvt Ltd v. Baby Forest Ayurveda Pvt Ltd

A recent judgment in the case of Mountain Valley Spring India Pvt Ltd v. Baby Forest Ayurveda Pvt Ltd has reaffirmed several critical legal standards in trademark infringement and redefined the “customer of average intelligence and imperfect recollection” test considering the evolution of customer…


As Good As New! - Refurbished Goods: Guidelines and Implications

The Delhi High Court recently issued a significant judgment regarding the sale and rebranding of refurbished goods, particularly addressing disputes between Seagate Technology LLC and WD Technologies (“original manufacturers / plaintiffs”) against several Indian entities involved in the rebranding…


Email Service by the Trademark Registry: Effective or a Loophole for missed deadlines?

In an earlier blog, we discussed the significance of the Madras High Court’s decision in the case of Ramya S. Moorthy vs. The Registrar of Trade Marks, wherein the Applicant failed to receive the email service of the opposition notice from the Trademark Registry and, as a result, did not file the…


Publication of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules,2024

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting vide notification dated March 15, 2024 has introduced the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, (hereinafter “new Rules”) in order to amend the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983 (hereinafter “old Rules”). The new Rules aim to provide clarity…


Decoding the Ambiguity: Sun Pharma vs. Dabur India and the Uncertainty of Extensions of Time at the Opposition Evidence Stage under Trade Mark Rules, 2017

The evolving landscape of the rules governing extensions of time at the evidence stage of opposition proceedings, particularly examining the transition from the Trade Marks Rules of 2002 (hereinafter “2002 Rules”) to the Trade Mark Rules 2017 (hereinafter “2017 Rules”) is a topic which has sparked…


Understanding well-known trademarks application in India

In 1977, the Whirlpool Corporation (hereinafter, “Whirlpool Corp.”) failed to renew their trademark ‘WHIRLPOOL’ in India, causing the registration to expire. While Whirlpool Corp. had been using its trademark since 1937, and secured registration of their trademark in India on 1956, however, their…


Use of a trademark as keyword in Google’s Ad Programme amounts to Use and Constitutes Infringement - Delhi High Court

The Appellants, Google India (P) Ltd., is a non-exclusive reseller of the Google Ads Programme in India, whereas the Respondents were DRS Logistics (P) Ltd., and Agarwal Packers and Movers (P) Ltd., who are leading packaging, moving and logistics service providers in the country. This case, Google…


Service of notice is completed when it is received by the party, not as soon as it is sent by the Trade mark office

Ramya S.Moorthy vs. the Registrar of Trade Marks When a trademark application is filed and subsequently accepted by the Trademark Office, it doesn't mean an immediate registration. Instead, the accepted application is published in the Trademarks Journal for third parties, who might have concerns or…