Ajax Engineering Private Limited v. The Registrar Of Trademarks Trademark Registry

W.P.No.21704 of 2022

The Madras High Court set aside an order by the Registrar of Trademarks that had rejected the trademark application 'AJAX-MAKES CONCRETE SENSE'. The petitioner argued that the rejection was arbitrary, as they had submitted extensive documentation proving continuous use since 1983. The court found that the respondent failed to apply its mind to the documents provided and violated principles of natural justice by issuing a non-speaking order. Consequently, the matter was remanded back for fresh consideration on merits.

Jurisdiction
India
Court
Madras High Court
Case Number
W.P.No.21704 of 2022
Judge(s)
Abdul Quddhose

Practitioner Note

This case demonstrates the evidentiary and procedural standards applied in trademark matters before Madras High Court. Understanding the court's reasoning in Ajax Engineering Private Limited vs The Registrar Of Trademarks Trademark Registry is valuable context for structuring arguments or assessing risk in similar proceedings.

Related Cases

trademarkMIPR2007(1)202

Dr. Anji ReddyvsHoechst Aktiengesellschaft

This appeal concerned the registrability of the pharmaceutical trademark 'Novigan' against an objection raised by the owner of 'Novalgin'. The single judge had ruled that the marks were deceptively similar, but the Madras High Court overturned this decision. The court found no significant phonetic or visual similarity between the two marks, noting that common prefixes like 'Nova' are widely used in the pharmaceutical sector. Consequently, the original order allowing registration was restored.

trademarkC.O. (COMM.IPD-TM) 658/2022 & I.A. 25035/2023

Walter Bushnell Pvt Ltd.vsGalaxi Drugs Pvt Ltd.

The Delhi High Court disposed of a trademark cancellation petition filed by Walter Bushnell Pvt Ltd. against Galaxi Drugs Pvt Ltd. The dispute centered on the conflicting marks 'DROTIN' and 'DROTAGAN' in Class 5 (pharmaceuticals). Crucially, the parties reached an out-of-court settlement, leading to Respondent No.1 agreeing to surrender its registration for 'DROTAGAN' and acknowledging the Petitioners' rights in 'DROTIN'. The court accepted this agreement, effectively resolving the dispute.

trademarkCS(COMM) 100/2022

Venus Worldwide Entertainment Private LimitedvsPopular Entertainment Network (Pen) Private Limited & Anr.

The Delhi High Court dismissed the Plaintiff's application for an interim injunction, which sought to prevent Defendants from releasing a film titled 'Khiladi'. The court found that the Plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case and determined that the balance of convenience favored the Defendants. Despite the Plaintiff claiming extensive goodwill and secondary meaning for its trademark 'KHILADI', the Court held that movie titles alone do not warrant an injunction without content similarity, ultimately allowing the disputed film's release.

trademarkC.A.(COMM.IPD-TM) 119/2021

LorealvsThe Registrar Of Trade Marks

The Delhi High Court allowed Loreal's appeal against the refusal of its trademark application 'PILLOW PROOF BLOWDRY' for hair care products. The court found that the mark was suggestive rather than descriptive, noting that while individual words are common, their combination does not immediately describe the product. Consequently, the court set aside the previous orders and directed the Trademark Registry to proceed with registration, provided a disclaimer is placed on the rights of the individual component words.

trademarkCS(COMM) 826/2022

M/S Jindal (India) LimitedvsM/S Spectrum Metal Profiles Through Its Partners Rakesh Gandhi and Vinay Gandhi

The Delhi High Court granted an interim injunction in favor of M/S Jindal (India) Limited against M/S Spectrum Metal Profiles. The court found that the defendant was using deceptively similar marks, such as 'JINDAL ROOFING SYSTEM' and 'JINDAL RANGOLI,' on roofing sheets, which infringed upon Jindal's registered trademarks like 'JINDAL SABRANG.' Recognizing a prima facie case and irreparable harm to Jindal's reputation, the court immediately restrained the defendant from selling or advertising goods using these infringing marks.

Arctic Invent — IP Strategy

Facing a trademark dispute?

Arctic's TM litigation team handles ~120 trademark matters per year across India, EU, and UK. From oppositions to infringement actions, we build winning arguments from precedent.

Talk to our TM team →

Disclaimer: This page contains an automated summary based on publicly available judicial records. The content is generated for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify details against the original source judgment before relying on this information for any legal purpose. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.

Strategy Consult

Facing a similar trademark matter?

Arctic's litigation team uses precedent data like this to build winning arguments.

Get a Strategy Call