India
A judicial lens on controversial IP realities in India
In a recent order passed on August 3, 2023, the Delhi HC in Ravi Manchanda v. Registrar of Trademarks rather scathingly pointed out a glaring error in an order passed by the Senior Examiner of Trademarks. In a case that was described as ‘sui-generis’, the Hon’ble Judge drew attention to a critical…
Can't sue for trademark infringement, but passing off remains an option if trademarks of both parties are registered rules Kerala High Court
The case involved a dispute between Wipro Enterprises Ltd., the registered owner of the trademark "Chandrika," in respect of goods covered in class 3, and M/S Mariyas Soaps and Chemicals, the registered owner of the trademark "Chandra" in respect of goods covered in class 3. The court's ruling…
Trademark Infringement and Unfair Trade Practices: The Calvin Klein Case
In this article, we delve into the intricacies of the Calvin Klein case, ( COTY GERMANY GMBH Vs XERYUS RETAIL PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. ) exploring the Court's findings, and the implications of such actions on brand reputation and consumer trust. The plaintiff's trademark "Calvin Klein" was…
Delhi High Court declares Cult Streetwear Brand 'Supreme' red-box device mark as a Well-Known Trademark in India
Charter 4 Corp, the plaintiff, claimed to have adopted the 'Supreme' mark back in 1994 in the United States and had been using it in India since 2006, gaining popularity among Indian customers. The company boasted over 700 global registrations for the mark 'Supreme', and they had also filed…
Affidavit Not Mandatory for Granting Well-Known Status to Trademarks in India
Kamdhenu Limited filed an appeal against a decision of the Registrar of Trademarks, who had dismissed their application to have their trademark 'KAMDHENU' included in the "List of Well-Known Trademarks." The Registrar's rejection was the absence of an affidavit along with the supporting evidence to…
Indian trademark office likely to abandon several thousand trademark applications
The Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has taken recent initiatives to clear backlogs in trademark prosecution and opposition matters, and a public notice was issued on February 6, 2023 encapsulating a gargantuan list of trademark application numbers that are said to…
The H Device of HERMES International has been declared a well-known trademark by the Delhi High Court
In a trademark infringement suit filed by Hermes International, one of the prayers by HERMES is that the mark of Hermes is declared as a well-known trademark within the meaning of Section 2(1)(zg) of The Trade Marks Act, 1999. The Trade Marks law sets out five factors which are to be taken into…
Empire strikes again - Indian Trademark Office issues notice regarding non filing of reply to examination report & counter statement to oppositions
If one may recall, on April 1, 2016, the Indian Trademark Office abandoned 1,66,771 Trademark Applications on the ground that the reply to the examination report had not been filed within 30 days. As you would have rightly guessed, the Delhi High Court granted a stay on the orders of the TMO.…
The Importance of Timely Renewal for Trademark Registrations in India
Renewing a trademark registration in India is an important process for businesses to maintain the exclusivity of their brand and protect their intellectual property. It is essential for businesses to understand the process of trademark renewal and the importance of timely renewal in order to avoid…
Steps for Renewing a Trademark Registration in India
Trademark registration in India is a process that allows businesses to protect their brand and intellectual property. A trademark registration is valid for a period of 10 years and can be renewed after the expiration of the initial registration period of 10 years. The process of renewing a…