India IP Litigation
7,068 annotated decisions
Page 228 of 295 · 7,068 total
Holland L.P. v.A.D. Electro Stell Co. Pvt. Ltd.
The plaintiffs, owners of patented Automatic Twist Locks (ATLs), filed a suit for permanent injunction alleging infringement of their copyright in the proprietary drawings. The defendant challenged the claim, arguing that the specific design drawing used by the railways had become part of the public domain and was not exclusively owned by the plaintiff.
Vimal Electric Company & v.Vimal Agro Products Pvt Ltd
The appellants filed an Appeal From Order challenging a Commercial Court's decision that allowed the respondent's application and ordered the return of the plaint. The original suit was for passing off action based on the use of the 'VIMAL' trade name. The High Court dismissed the appeal, holding that the Commercial Court lacked territorial jurisdiction based on the causes of action pleaded.
Kanishk Sinha v.State of West Bengal
The petitioner, a patentee, challenged actions of the State regarding e-rickshaws, asserting that defendants were infringing his patent on echo friendly vehicles. The court affirmed the petitioner's status as a patent holder and held that any license granted by the State in violation of the existing injunction would be void ab initio.
M/S. Iritech Inc v.The Controller Of Patents
The petitioner sought to quash the 'deemed to be withdrawn' status of its Indian National Phase Patent Application (No. 5272/DELNP/2008) due to a clerical error in the application number being typed as 6272/DELNP/2008 in Form No. 18 and supporting documents. The respondents argued that the correction was sought after the statutory period expired, making it impossible for the Controller to act. The Court ruled in favor of the petitioner, finding the error clerical and restoring the application.
Saregama India Limited v.Whackedout Media Pvt. Ltd.
Saregama India Limited filed a suit alleging copyright infringement against Whackedout Media Pvt. Ltd., claiming ownership over musical and literary works and sound recordings. The core legal dispute revolved around the jurisdiction of the Calcutta High Court, specifically whether its territorial reach was established under Clause 12 of the Letters Patent despite the defendant challenging it based on Section 62(2) of the Copyright Act. The court ultimately dismissed the application to revoke leave, affirming that the averments in the plaint provided sufficient grounds for the court to assume jurisdiction.
Anuradha Doval v.The Controller Of Patents And Designs & Ors.
This appeal before the Calcutta High Court challenged the cancellation of a registered design for a 'Bottle Cap' (Design No. 222799). The private respondent argued that the shape and configuration were not new or original, citing prior published art documents, including magazine issues from 2009. The court ultimately upheld the Controller's decision, finding that the impugned design was substantially identical to existing publications and lacked novelty.
M/s.Agsar Match Industries v.M/S.Edison Paints By Its
The Madras High Court confirmed a lower court's finding that M/S.Edison Paints was engaging in passing off by using a deceptively similar mark (Double Stag) for red oxide and colour oxide. The court emphasized that even if the products were technically different or had minor packaging variations, the similarity of the core trademark image—the stag—would lead the target audience (civil contractors/masons) to believe both products originated from the same company or sister concerns. This ruling strongly protects established goodwill against confusing imitation.
ITC Ltd v.Irinjalakuda Town Co-Operative Bank Ltd & Ors.
ITC Ltd filed a composite suit against Irinjalakuda Town Co-Operative Bank, alleging infringement and passing off due to the bank's use of 'ITC' as an abbreviation in its name. The respondents sought revocation of leave under Clause 12 of the Letters Patent, primarily arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction because no part of the cause of action arose within Calcutta. However, the High Court found that a true reading of the plaint showed the suit was maintainable and granted leave to proceed with both claims jointly.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd v.Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt Ltd
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd filed a quia timet copyright infringement and passing off action against Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt Ltd, alleging that Sony illegally copied the format and concept of Zee's popular talent hunt show, 'India's Best Dramebaaz'. The court heard the Notice of Motion regarding the dispute.
Cello Household Products v.Modware India
Cello Household Products filed suit against Modware India alleging design infringement and passing off regarding their PURO brand plastic water bottle. Cello claimed its unique, registered design was illicitly copied by Modware's product, KUDOZ. The court addressed the prima facie case for interim relief.
Monsanto Technology Llc And Ors. v.Nuziveedu Seeds Limited & Ors.
Monsanto Technology LLC and its affiliates filed a suit against Nuziveedu Seeds Limited, alleging infringement of their intellectual property rights. The core dispute revolved around the defendants continuing to market and sell Genetically Modified Hybrid Cotton Planting Seeds despite the termination of sub-license agreements. Plaintiffs claimed violation of both registered patent (No. 214436) and trademarks (BOLLGARD/BOLLGARD II). The court, while addressing interim applications, issued directions mandating the defendants to tender or pay a trait fee, render detailed sales accounts, and comply with licensing guidelines.
Ajanta Pharma Ltd v.Uas Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd & Another
The Calcutta High Court ruled in favor of Ajanta Pharma Ltd in a case involving the trademark 'Sunstop' for sun-screen cream. The court found that Uas Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd had deliberately attempted to pass off its similar product as belonging to Ajanta, exploiting the plaintiff's established market reputation and substantial sales figures. Consequently, the court granted a decree restraining Defendant No. 1 from continuing this dishonest practice.
M/S Guruji Enterprises Pvt Ltd. v.Union Of India And Anr.
The Delhi High Court dismissed an appeal filed by M/S Guruji Enterprises Pvt Ltd. challenging the removal of its 'GURUJI' trademark. The core dispute centered on whether a mandatory prior notice (Form O-3) under Section 25(3) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, was properly served before the mark's cancellation. The Court upheld the Single Judge's finding that since the notice was sent by post and addressed to the proprietor, it was deemed legally served under Rule 15 of the Rules, thereby validating the removal.
Dy.CIT-LTU, Centre-1 v.Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.
The appeal challenged the Assessing Officer's disallowance of expenses incurred by TCS Ltd. on imported software due to non-deduction of TDS, arguing that the payment constituted 'royalty'. The Tribunal examined whether the purchase was for acquiring a copyrighted article or merely goods for trading purposes.
M/S. M. B. Exports Limited v.The Controller Of The Patents And Designs & Ors.
The petitioner, M/S. M. B. Exports Limited, approached the Calcutta High Court regarding an application for cancellation of Design No. 244214. The court directed the respondent (Controller) to produce all related proceedings within two weeks and adjourned the matter.
M/S. M. B. Exports Limited v.The Controller Of The Patents And Designs & Ors.
The petitioner, M/S. M. B. Exports Limited, filed a matter before the Calcutta High Court concerning an application for cancellation of Registered Design No. 244439. The court directed the respondent to produce the relevant proceedings and adjourned the matter.
M/S. M. B. Exports Limited v.The Controller Of The Patents And Designs & Ors.
The Calcutta High Court addressed an application concerning the cancellation of Registered Design No. 244215, which was filed by Jagdhir Sing, Proprietor of M/s. M.B. Machinery Corporation. The court directed the respondent to produce the relevant records within two weeks and adjourned the matter.
Som Distilleries And Breweries Ltd. v.The Controller Of Patents And Designs & Ors.
The Controller of Patents and Designs produced records regarding the application for cancellation of Design No. 223479 filed by Som Distilleries & Breweries Ltd. The court allowed both parties liberty to inspect the original records.
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited v.Wockhardt Limited And Anr
The Bombay High Court addressed a Notice of Motion concerning an action in passing off brought by Torrent Pharmaceuticals against Wockhardt. The court analyzed the 'classical trinity' of passing off, focusing on misrepresentation and reputation. Ultimately, the judge found that Torrent failed to establish a prima facie case for passing off due to the long co-existence of the rival products without any demonstrated confusion or deception. Consequently, the interim injunction sought by Torrent was dismissed.
Intex Technologies (India) Ltd v.M/S Az Tech (India)
The Delhi High Court set aside an earlier single judge's order that had restrained Intex Technologies from using the mark 'AQUA' for mobile phones. The court found that the respondent, M/S Az Tech, failed to establish a prima facie case of passing off. Crucially, the court noted the dishonest conduct of Az Tech in copying Intex's logo font and style during the pendency of the suit, which disentitled them from obtaining an injunction.
Cipla Limited v.Novartis Ag & Anr
Cipla Limited appealed an injunction granted against it by the Delhi High Court, which restrained Cipla from using or manufacturing products containing INDACATEROL. The dispute centered on Novartis Ag & Anr's patent (No. 222346) for the drug INDACATEROL, marketed as ONBREZ. While Cipla argued that the respondents did not manufacture the drug in India and thus were not working the patent locally, the court upheld the injunction.
Bayer Corporation v.Union of India
The dispute centered on whether Natco Pharma Limited (Natco) and Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd. could export products covered by compulsory licenses, specifically SORAFENAT/SORAFENIB, for regulatory development purposes outside India. Bayer challenged these exports, arguing they infringed the patent or violated the terms of the Compulsory Licence. The court ultimately held that non-patentee companies cannot be deprived of exercising rights under Section 107A merely because a compulsory license was granted.
Bayer Corporation v.Union Of India & Ors
Bayer challenged Natco's (and Alembic's) exports of SORAFENIB/SORAFENAT, which were covered by a Compulsory Licence, arguing these exports infringed the patent. The core legal question was whether Section 107A allowed for such exports for regulatory purposes.
Shrijee Industries Through Proprietor v.Shree Laxmi Industries
The Gujarat High Court addressed a petition seeking to overturn an order that rejected a stay application in a trademark dispute involving the mark 'MARSHAL'. The Court quashed the impugned order, finding merit in the petitioner's request for judicial intervention. Crucially, instead of dismissing the matter entirely, the court ordered the transfer of the subsequent civil suit (Regular Civil Suit No. 297 of 2014) to be heard alongside the original trademark suit (Special Civil Suit No. 3264 of 2013). This decision ensures that both parties' claims regarding the mark are adjudicated together.