IP Cases — 2016
136 decisions across all jurisdictions
Page 4 of 5 · 136 total
Telefonktiebolaget Lm Ericsson(Publ) v.Lava International Ltd
The court addressed an application filed by the defendant seeking procedural reliefs, including a fresh trial schedule and permission to examine additional witnesses. The case involves patent infringement allegations concerning mobile radio communication technology and questions regarding the FRAND status of the patents.
Mehra Cosmetics v.Ram Kumar Gulati & Ors.
The Delhi High Court granted an interim injunction favoring Mehra Cosmetics against Ram Kumar Gulati & Ors. The court found that the defendants were attempting to pass off their goods as those of the plaintiff by using a deceptively similar mark ('BLUE CHEF' vs 'BLUE CLIFF'). Despite arguments regarding the unregistered status of the plaintiff's trademark and procedural issues, the court ruled that the similarity in sound and appearance constituted passing off. The defendants were ordered to cease using the infringing mark and change labels on their existing stock.
Wind World (India) Limited v.Enercon GmbH
Wind World (India) Limited challenged an arbitral tribunal's order that directed them to produce documents and granted interim measures. The dispute arose from various agreements, including the Intellectual Property Licensing Agreement. The Bombay High Court set aside the impugned order, finding it contrary to law.
Pfizer Products, Inc & Anr v.Platinum Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd & Ors
The Delhi High Court ruled in favor of Pfizer Products, Inc. in a suit alleging trademark infringement and passing off by Platinum Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd. The court found that the defendant was illegally selling a drug under the deceptively similar trademark BEQSULE against the plaintiff's registered mark BECOSULES. Furthermore, the court noted that the defendant adopted an identical trade dress (white and reddish orange color combination) to mislead consumers, leading to a decree of injunction.
Chandra Sekar v.The Controller of Patents and Designs
Chandra Sekar challenged orders dismissing his two patent applications (Nos. 8846/CHENP/2011 and 8907/CHENP/2011) because the request for examination was filed late. The petitioner argued that the delay was due to calendaring errors and negligence on the part of the Indian agent, not his own.
M/S Shinhan Apex Corporation v.M/S Euro Apex B.V.
This appeal concerned the enforcement of a PFA from an arbitration award, which mandated the respondent to unconditionally and irrevocably transfer all rights and interests in specific Indian Patents (Nos. 2143/MUM/2008 and 2144/MUM/2008) to the appellant. The Supreme Court found that the appellant had duly executed and forwarded the required deed of transfer, thereby fulfilling its obligation under the PFA.
Wonderful Developers Private Ltd. v.Impresario Entertainment And Hospitality Private Ltd. & Ors.
The Delhi High Court addressed a conflict regarding when a trade mark infringement suit must be stayed pending rectification proceedings before the IPAB. The court clarified that merely filing a rectification application after an infringement suit has commenced does not automatically mandate a stay. Instead, the trial court must assess whether the plea of invalidity is prima facie tenable; if so, it should stay the suit to allow time for the IPAB decision. This ruling provides clarity on the procedural interplay between civil suits and IPAB rectification actions.
emami limited v.patanjali ayurved limited
Emami Limited sued Patanjali Ayurved Limited for infringement of its registered trademark 'Kesh King' and design of a bottle, alleging that Patanjali’s ‘Kesh Kanti’ was deceptively similar and copied the bottle design, creating confusion among consumers. The Petitioner claimed significant turnover (Rs. 305.44 Crores) after acquiring rights to both the trademark and design.
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) v.Competition Commission Of India
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson challenged the orders passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which had initiated investigations based on complaints from Micromax and Intex. The core dispute revolved around whether the CCI possessed jurisdiction to examine claims related to royalty payments for Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). Ericsson argued that patent-related royalty issues fall exclusively under the Patents Act, 1970, not the Competition Act, 2002. The Delhi High Court ultimately dismissed the writ petitions, affirming the jurisdictional boundaries of the CCI in this context.
Cadila Healthcare Limited v.P.Ramu Trading as Skylane Pharmaceuticals
The Madras High Court ruled in favor of Cadila Healthcare Limited, a major pharmaceutical player, finding that the defendant's use of the trademark PANTOSKY constituted infringement against Cadila's registered mark PANTODAC. The court held that PANTOSKY was deceptively similar to PANTODAC, leading to a decree for permanent injunction and damages. This judgment reinforces the protection afforded to well-known pharmaceutical trademarks in the Indian market.
M/s.Advaith Bio Remedies v.The Registrar Of Trademarks
M/s. Advaith Bio Remedies approached the Madras High Court seeking intervention regarding the undue delay in processing their trademark application for 'BIO CARE' (Application No. 3040849). The petitioner, which manufactures Ayurvedic medicines, argued that the prolonged wait was negatively impacting their business operations. The court intervened by issuing a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Registrar of Trademarks to prioritize and dispose of the pending application as expeditiously as possible.
Mandev Tubes Pvt. Ltd v.Kalpesh R. Jain And 2 Ors
The Plaintiff, Mandev Tubes Pvt. Ltd., sought protection for its registered design (No. 224751) concerning copper tubes, alleging that the Defendants infringed this design and engaged in passing off. The Plaintiff claimed the design was novel and original, featuring an expanded bell shape at one end of the tube.
M/S Rspl Limited v.Mukesh Sharma & Anr
This appeal challenged a single judge's decision that dismissed an IP suit based on lack of territorial jurisdiction. The appellant, M/S Rspl Limited, had filed the suit under the Trade Marks Act and Copyright Act seeking injunction against alleged infringement and passing off by the respondents using the name 'GHARI TRADEMARK COMPANY'. The High Court Division Bench overturned the single judge's ruling, affirming that the court has jurisdiction given the plaintiff's corporate office and business activities within Delhi.
M/s.Cavinkare Pvt. Ltd. v.Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
The suit was filed by M/s.Cavinkare Pvt. Ltd. seeking a declaration that its cosmetic composition did not infringe Patent No.169917 and requesting a permanent injunction against Hindustan Unilever Ltd. The court found that the subject patent had already expired in 2009, rendering the claims of infringement and the request for an injunction moot.
Delhi Public School Society v.Dps World Foundation And Anr
The Delhi High Court granted an interim injunction in favor of the Delhi Public School Society against Dps World Foundation And Anr. The court restrained the defendants from using the registered trade mark 'DPS' or any deceptively similar mark, citing infringement and passing off. While the plaintiff sought protection for its crest logo under copyright, the court denied this specific relief due to lack of evidence regarding continuous use. This ruling sets a precedent for protecting established educational brand identities in litigation.
Qarshi Industries Pvt. Ltd. v.Abdul Mueed & Ors.
The Delhi High Court addressed an appeal filed by Qarshi Industries challenging the denial of an ex-parte ad-interim injunction against Hamdard in a passing off suit. The court found that given the complexity of the arguments—including issues regarding the descriptive nature of the Urdu words 'JAM-E-SHIRIN' and potential suppression of facts related to Pakistani trademark disclaimers—the prima facie case was not strong enough for an immediate injunction. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, requiring both parties to complete their pleadings before further relief could be considered.
M/S. Bhatia Enterprises v.Sh. Subhash Arora
M/S. Bhatia Enterprises filed a suit alleging infringement of its registered design for a water jug (No. 235010). The court considered an application for a preliminary injunction, noting that the defendant had previously failed in its attempt to cancel the registration based on prior publication. Given that the plaintiff had a prima facie case and irreparable loss would occur without protection, the court granted the interim injunction.
Essel Propack Ltd. v.Essel Kitchenware Ltd. And Anr
Essel Propack Ltd. filed a suit seeking injunctions for trade mark infringement and passing off against Essel Kitchenware Ltd. The court considered the convoluted litigation history and arguments regarding sufficient cause for interim relief. Ultimately, the court dismissed the Notice of Motion, finding that the Plaintiff had not demonstrated sufficient cause.
The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. v.Entertainment Network (India) Ltd.
This case involved disputes arising from a license agreement between The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (a Copyright Society) and Entertainment Network (India) Ltd. (an FM radio station operator). The core dispute centered on whether the claimant needed a license to broadcast copyrighted musical works, and subsequent claims regarding royalty payments and refunds. The Bombay High Court reviewed the arbitral award, ultimately setting aside one part of it due to lack of jurisdiction while allowing the petition filed by the Copyright Society.
Staar Surgical Company v.Polymer Technologies International & Ors
The Delhi High Court dismissed Staar Surgical Company's suit against Polymer Technologies International, which alleged passing off of intraocular lenses. The court found that the defendant's current trademark, 'EYEPCL,' was entirely distinct and not deceptively similar to the plaintiff's brand name, 'VISIAN ICL.' Despite previous interim injunctions granted on a different mark used by the defendants, the court ruled that the new mark failed to meet the test of confusion, especially considering the specialized nature of the medical goods.
Teva Api India Pvt. Ltd. v.Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp
The respondents sued the appellants alleging infringement of Indian Patent No. 209816 for Sitagliptin. The appellants challenged the interim injunction, claiming their manufacturing and exports were solely for Research & Development (R&D) and obtaining global regulatory approvals before the patent expiry in 2022. The court dismissed the appeal but directed the parties to complete pleadings.
Aktiebolaget Volvo & Ors v.Hari Satya Lubricants & Anr
The Delhi High Court ruled in favor of Aktiebolaget Volvo & Ors, finding that the defendant's use of the mark 'VALVO' for lubricating oil products constituted trademark infringement and passing off against the well-known mark 'VOLVO'. The court issued a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from using the similar mark. Furthermore, nominal damages were awarded to one of the plaintiffs, reinforcing the protection afforded to famous trademarks in India.
M/S Shinhan Apex Corporation v.M/S Euro Apex B.V.
The dispute arose from an arbitration award requiring M/S Shinhan Apex Corporation (appellant) to unconditionally and irrevocably transfer all rights and interests of Indian Patents No. 2143/MUM/2008 and 2144/MUM/2008 to M/S Euro Apex B.V. (respondent). The respondent challenged the execution, but the Supreme Court found that the appellant had duly executed and forwarded the transfer deed as per the modified request from the respondent themselves.
Tata Sons Limited v.Ram Niwas & Ors
The Delhi High Court ruled in favor of Tata Sons Limited, granting permanent injunctions against Ram Niwas & Ors for trademark infringement and passing off. The court found that the defendants were deceptively using the mark 'TATA' and the domain name 'www.tatapackers.com' to associate themselves with the well-known TATA brand in the transport and logistics sector. Furthermore, the defendants were ordered to transfer the infringing domain name to Tata Sons Limited.
Krbl Ltd. v.Pk Overseas Pvt Ltd
The Delhi High Court overturned a lower court's decision regarding an application for interim injunction in a passing off dispute concerning rice brands. The appeal focused on the deceptive similarity of color combinations, not just the marks themselves. The High Court found that the trial court failed to adequately address the crucial elements of reputation and consumer confusion before dismissing the injunction request. Consequently, the case was remanded back to the trial court for a fresh hearing after both parties submit necessary documentation.
Mac Personal Care Pvt. Ltd. v.Lavera Gmbh And Co.Kg
The Delhi High Court upheld an interim injunction in favor of Lavera Gmbh, affirming that Mac Personal Care Pvt. Ltd. was a dishonest adopter of the trademark 'LAVERA'. Despite initial contradictions regarding trans-border reputation, the court found that Lavera's international registration and intent to market in India entitled it to protection. The judgment emphasizes that dishonesty at the inception of mark adoption is fatal, even if subsequent use by the alleged infringer continues.
Akashaditya Harishchandra Lama v.Ashutosh Gowarikar And 4 Ors
The plaintiff filed a Notice of Motion alleging that his creative work had been plagiarized. The court dismissed the motion, finding that the plaintiff failed to establish a sufficient prima facie case due to an ever-shifting stand on what was infringed. Furthermore, the court criticized the plaintiff's conduct for publicizing the litigation in the media.
Controller Of Patents & Designs v.Deputy Registrar, Intellectual Property Appellate Board
The Controller of Patents & Designs challenged an order by the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) which had allowed the appeal of respondents against the rejection of a patent application. The dispute centered on whether the Controller failed to exercise proper discretion, specifically concerning the insufficient fee paid for all claims in the application.
Times Publishing House Ltd. v.Financial Times Ltd & Ors.
The Delhi High Court dismissed the appeals filed by Times Publishing House Ltd. against Financial Times Ltd, addressing challenges related to the validity and rectification of the 'FT' trademark. The judgment clarified the interplay between civil suit proceedings and IPAB rectification petitions under Section 124 of the Trade Marks Act. Crucially, the court noted that since the IPAB had already ruled in favor of the respondent regarding the mark's validity, the issues raised by the appellant became academic, leading to the dismissal of both appeals.
My Space Inc. v.Super Cassettes Industries Ltd.
This Delhi High Court judgment addressed a dispute between MySpace Inc., an Internet Service Provider, and Super Cassettes Industries Ltd. (SCIL), a major music company, regarding the unauthorized use of copyrighted works on the Myspace platform. SCIL sought permanent injunctions against alleged infringement, while MySpace argued for intermediary protection under relevant IT laws. The court balanced IP rights with freedom of expression, clarifying that safe harbor provisions apply if an intermediary acts upon specific notice.
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