IndiGo has flown under the “6E” brand for eighteen years. When Mahindra Electric badged a new EV “BE 6e,” the airline headed to court. It is a neat study in how far rights in a short alphanumeric mark stretch across industries.
The dispute
In Interglobe Aviation v. Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd. (Delhi High Court, CS(COMM) 1073/2024), the flashpoint is the designation “6E.”
- IndiGo has used the 6E callsign as a brand identifier for eighteen years, extending it to 6E Prime, 6E Flex, 6E Link and 6E Add-ons, and secured registration for “6E Link” across multiple classes in 2015.
- Mahindra Electric filed for “BE 6e” in Class 12 (vehicles) on 25 November 2024, pursued expedited examination, and had the mark accepted by 27 November 2024 (not yet advertised in the Journal).
IndiGo sought a Delhi High Court injunction, asserting that “6E” is an integral element of its brand identity and that Mahindra’s use would infringe.
The competing positions
- IndiGo: “6E” is central to its brand, built over nearly two decades and registered in the “6E” family; another’s use invites association and infringement.
- Mahindra: “BE 6e” is a composite mark, distinct from IndiGo’s standalone “6E,” in a different class (vehicles vs air travel), with no real likelihood of confusion.
The parties subsequently entered amicable resolution discussions.
The issues it raises
- How far do rights in a short alphanumeric mark travel across unrelated industries (airlines vs automobiles)? Recall that cross-industry confusion turns on goods, channels and buyers — see our note on target customers and infringement.
- Standalone vs composite. As Section 17 shows, rights attach to the mark as a whole — so “BE 6e” as a composite is a genuine distinguishing argument.
- Expedited acceptance ≠ immunity. A quickly accepted, not-yet-advertised mark can still be opposed and litigated.
The takeaways
- Short, catchy alphanumerics invite conflict across sectors — brand owners should register broadly and watch the journal.
- Composite adoption is a real defence, but does not guarantee safety against a strong, long-used family of marks.
- Well-known, long-used brands carry weight even outside their core class — which is exactly what makes these cross-industry fights unpredictable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IndiGo vs Mahindra “6E” dispute about? IndiGo’s long-used “6E” brand versus Mahindra Electric’s “BE 6e” EV mark — a dispute over rights in a short alphanumeric mark across different industries.
Can rights in an alphanumeric mark cross industries? It depends on the goods, trade channels and buyers, and on the strength and fame of the mark — cross-industry confusion is not automatic.
Does a composite mark like “BE 6e” avoid conflict with “6E”? It is a genuine argument — rights attach to the whole mark — but it is not a guaranteed defence against a strong, long-used family of marks.
What was the status of the case? The parties entered amicable resolution discussions after IndiGo sought an injunction.
Legislation referred to
- The Trade Marks Act, 1999