Trademarks
Perspectives on trademarks across India and the subcontinent.
Raja Pannir Selvam · 1 April 2025
Bose Reclaims boseindia.co.in: A Win Against Cybersquatting
A German registrant grabbed boseindia.co.in to sell look-alike products. Under the INDRP, Bose won it back — the tribunal finding confusing similarity, no legitimate interest and bad faith. What the March 2025 award means for well-known brands online.
Vijayalakshmi R · 28 February 2025
Delhi High Court Orders Amazon to Pay ₹339 Crore for Counterfeit Goods
In a landmark 2025 ruling, the Delhi High Court held Amazon liable for ₹339.25 crore over counterfeit Beverly Hills Polo Club goods sold on its platform — a turning point for marketplace liability in India.
6 December 2024
IndiGo's '6E' vs Mahindra's 'BE 6e': A Trademark Turbulence
IndiGo has used '6E' as a brand for eighteen years; Mahindra Electric adopted 'BE 6e' for an EV. IndiGo sought an injunction in the Delhi High Court — a case testing cross-industry rights in an alphanumeric mark.
Rohit Magesh · 5 November 2024
The JioHotstar Domain Saga: Why Squatting on a Brand Doesn't Pay
A Delhi individual registered jiohotstar.com before the Jio–Hotstar merger, hoping to cash in. Why that is cybersquatting — not a clever bet — and how the UDRP's three-part test decides who keeps the domain.
Rohit Magesh · 1 November 2024
Similar Pharmaceutical Trademarks in India: How Courts Draw the Line
Drug names often share a prefix or suffix drawn from the active ingredient. When is that confusing enough to stop — and when is it just shared public property? How Indian courts balance safety and fair competition.
Adlin Mini M · 29 October 2024
Domain Registrars and Trademark Abuse: Snapdeal v. GoDaddy
Snapdeal sued 32 domain registrars over 'SNAPDEAL' look-alike domains. The Delhi High Court stopped short of blanket injunctions but ordered registrars to build grievance and abuse mechanisms — and disable privacy that hides infringers.
Keerthana K · 28 October 2024
Madrid Applications in India: Overcoming the Trademark Office's Objections
An International Registration designating India is examined under Indian law — and often meets provisional refusals. Six practical strategies: local counsel, class-specific objections, the ® trap, priority claims, and where to file amendments.
Raja Pannir Selvam · 11 September 2024
Opposition Revived: You Can't Abandon It for Late Evidence If the Counter-Statement Was Never Served
The Bombay High Court revived a trademark opposition the Registry had abandoned for late evidence — because the opponent was never actually served the counter-statement that starts the clock. Procedure must be followed strictly.
Raja Pannir Selvam · 10 September 2024
Corporate Name Change? Update Your Trademarks — and the Registry Must Act
When a company changed its name and filed to update its trademarks, the Registry sat on it. The Madras High Court directed the office to dispose of the procedural application within six weeks — a nudge to keep IP records current.
Adlin Mini M and Keerthana K · 9 September 2024
The Jan Vishwas Act, 2023: What Changed for IP Law in India
The Jan Vishwas Act decriminalised a swathe of IP offences from 1 August 2024 — replacing imprisonment with fines and turnover-linked penalties across the Patents, Trade Marks, Copyright and GI Acts.
Adlin Mini M · 30 August 2024
Fake Legal Notices: How Scammers Impersonate IP Law Firms
Scammers are impersonating well-known law firms — fake legal notices from look-alike emails and WhatsApp accounts, demanding payment over invented IP violations. How Shardul Amarchand, Anand & Anand and others fought back, and how to protect yourself.
Vaniah Dominic · 27 August 2024
Deemed Protection: The Trade Marks Act vs the Madrid Protocol
If the Indian Registry misses the 18-month deadline on a Madrid application, the mark can be 'deemed protected' — but India's trigger (failure to convey acceptance) differs from the Protocol's (failure to convey refusal). A crucial distinction.