M/S Sagar Ratna Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. v. M/S D S Foods And Ors.

Harmohan SinghvsGurbux Singh

The Delhi High Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, who owned a trademark used for pipes and hoses. The court found that the defendant's use of a deceptively similar trademark and packaging was an intentional act designed to capitalize on the plaintiff's goodwill after their partnership dissolved. Given the striking similarity in both the mark and the distinctive yellow-striped packaging, especially considering the target audience of illiterate mechanics, the court granted permanent injunctions and ordered the destruction of the infringing materials.

Manipal Holdings Private LimitedvsManipal Academy Of Higher Education Deemed University, Registrar of Trade Marks, MEMG International India Private Limited, Manipal Global Education Services Pvt. Ltd.

The Madras High Court dismissed a series of Trade Mark Rectification petitions filed by Manipal Holdings Private Limited against various entities. The court noted that the contesting parties had reached an amicable settlement and executed a compromise decree on November 4, 2023. Consequently, the petitioner requested that all rectification petitions be closed as withdrawn in line with the terms of the settlement.

Puma SevsSh Jugal Kishore Jain T/A M/S Ashish Jain Textile Mills (Regd) and Anr.

The Delhi High Court ruled in favor of Puma Se, ordering the cancellation and removal of two trademarks ('and/PUMAXE (Label)') registered by Sh Jugal Kishore Jain T/A M/S Ashish Jain Textile Mills. The court found that the impugned marks were deceptively similar to Puma's prior and well-known 'PUMA' trademark, which is associated with identical goods (clothing, footwear). Furthermore, the court noted a lack of continuous use by the respondent for one of the marks, reinforcing the grounds for rectification under the Trade Marks Act.

Dwarka MatlanivsJay Daryani

Dwarka Matlani filed a rectification petition challenging the copyright registration granted to Jay Daryani for the label and packaging titled 'ROYAL'. The petitioner argued that the registered artwork was a slavish imitation of their own established trademark/label, which they had used since 1997. Furthermore, the petitioner contended that the registration process concealed material facts regarding the true ownership of the artistic work. The court found that the respondent's label was an imitation and lacked originality, making it ineligible for copyright protection. Given these findings, the High Court allowed the petition, directing the removal of the impugned copyright from the Register.

Toasha Agencies And AnothervsSiddhant Choudharyand Anr.

The Delhi High Court framed a comprehensive set of issues in the trademark passing-off suit filed by Toasha Agencies against Siddhant Choudhary and others. The core disputes revolve around whether the plaintiffs are lawful proprietors of the 'TOASHA' trade name, if they possess distinctive goodwill, and crucially, whether the defendants have engaged in passing off or unfair competition. The court directed both parties to file their lists of witnesses and evidence, setting the stage for a full trial.