Calvin Klein Trademark Trust v. Ashok Kumar (Unkown)

M/s.World Wide Brands Inc.vsSmt.Dayavanti Jhamnadas Hinduja, Smt.Janaki Madanlal Hinduja, Smt.Veena Rajendra Hinduja, Smt.Nalini Dinesh Hinduja (Trading as The Central Wearhouse) and The Assistant Registrar of Trade Marks

M/s.World Wide Brands Inc challenged the Intellectual Property Appellate Board's order allowing the registration of 'Camel Collection' by local partners trading as The Central Wearhouse. The petitioner argued that their global reputation and prior use entitled them to exclusive rights, while the respondents claimed long-standing continuous use in India since 1992. The Madras High Court upheld the appellate board's finding that the petitioner failed to provide sufficient evidence of commercial publicity within India.

British Engines (UK) LimitedvsThe Assistant Registrar of Trade Marks

The Madras High Court allowed British Engines (UK) Limited's appeal against the Trade Marks Registry's refusal of its mark. The court found that the Registrar's decision was unsustainable because it failed to adequately address the appellant's arguments regarding the device nature and international use of the mark. Consequently, the application was permitted to proceed to advertisement, though with a crucial caveat: the appellant cannot claim exclusive rights over the individual words 'British' or 'Engines'.

Legrand France and Novateur Electrical and Digital Systems Pvt LtdvsPraveen Kumar Jain (Trading as Biocon Tapes India) and The Registrar of Trademarks

The Madras High Court allowed a petition seeking rectification of the trade mark register, successfully canceling an identical registration of 'LEGRAND' held by Praveen Kumar Jain. The court found that the petitioner, Legrand France, had prior and extensive use of the arbitrary mark since 1970 in India, while the respondent's goods (adhesive tapes) were complementary to the petitioner's electrical products (switches). Given the identical nature of the marks and the likelihood of public confusion due to overlapping distribution channels, the court ruled that the later registration was made without sufficient cause.

M/S. P.M. Diesels P. Ltd.vsM/S. Thukral Mechanical Works & Ors.

The Delhi High Court delivered a multi-faceted judgment addressing several IP disputes involving the 'FIELDMARSHAL' trademark. In one suit, the court decreed P.M. Diesels Pvt. Ltd.'s claim against Thukral Mechanical Works, while simultaneously ordering the cancellation of an older registration held by Thukral Mechanical Works in Class 7. Furthermore, the High Court set aside previous rejection orders for P.M. Diesels' trademark applications, allowing them to proceed toward registration.

Feroke Boards LimitedvsUniversal Hardware

The Madras High Court allowed rectification petitions filed by Feroke Boards Limited against Universal Hardware and the Registrar of Trademarks. The court found that the petitioner had prior use rights for marks like 'FERO' and 'FEROPLY' since 1990, in a near-identical business sector (boards and construction materials). Despite the respondent's attempt to distinguish their composite marks by adding initials ('MK'), the court ruled that this adoption was not honest and was likely to cause consumer confusion. Consequently, the infringing trademark entries were removed from the register.