High Court Of Delhi
OM PRAKASH GUPTA - Appellant
Versus
PARVEEN KUMAR - Respondent
L.P.A. 7665 of 99
Decided On : 05/19/2000
Trademark - Infringement of Trademark - Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 - Section 28, Section 17 - The court found that the plaintiff had misrepresented, suppressed, and withheld material documents, amounting to practicing fraud on the Court. The suit was dismissed with costs, and the interim injunction was vacated.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for injunction against infringement of trademark, infringement of copyright, and passing off. The plaintiff claimed to be the registered proprietor of the label 'suraj CHHAP' in respect of Scented Chewing Tobacco. The defendants filed an application to vacate the ex parte injunction, alleging that the plaintiff had made false statements and suppressed material facts.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the plaintiff had suppressed material facts and documents, and practiced fraud on the Court. The suit was dismissed with costs, and the interim injunction was vacated.
Issues: The issues included the misrepresentation of facts by the plaintiff, the effect of non-user of the trademark, and the validity of the plaintiff's claim as a registered proprietor.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the plaintiff's conduct amounted to practicing fraud on the Court, warranting the dismissal of the suit. The non-user of the trademark for a long period led to the inference of abandonment, and the defendants were found to have superior rights to the trademark and pouches.
Final Decision: The suit of the plaintiff was dismissed with costs, and the interim injunction was vacated. The court found that the plaintiff's conduct warranted the dismissal of the suit and that the defendants had superior rights to the trademark and pouches.
( 1 ) BY this order, plaintiff s application (I. A. No. 7665/99) under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2, Civil Procedure Code seeking temporary injunction and defendants application (I. A. No. 8739/99) under Order 39 Rule 4, Civil Procedure Code for vacating the exparte interim injunction granted on 12. 8. 1999 are being disposed of.
( 2 ) PLAINTIFFS has filed a suit for injunction against infringement of trademark, infringement of copyright, and passing off, besides other ancillary reliefs. The case of the plaintiff is that plaintiff is the registered proprietor of the label suraj CHHAP registered vide registration No. 287631 dated 24. 4. 1973 in Class 34 in respect of Scented Chewing Tobacco which has been renewed and a valid mark on the Trademark Register having been last renewed on 24. 4. 1994. Formerly plaintiffs was a partnership firm doing business in the name of M/s. Prakash Sugandh Bhandar comprising of Om Prakash, Sumer Chand and Promod Kumar as its partners since the year 1973. Subsequently, one of the partner retired and one other expired and now plaintiff is its sole proprietor. It is alleged that the plaintiff has traded extensively under the trade mark "suraj CHHAP" for different varieties of tobacco since the year 1973 in several States including, Delhi, Rajasthan, U. P. , Gujarat and M. P. and has got good reputation in his products. It is further alleged that plaintiff is also the owner and proprietor of the artistic work in the labels and pouches used for sale of their products which are distinctive, with typical trade dress and unique colour combination. Plaintiff also claims that he has also got common law right for action for passing off in respect of this trademark on account of long and extensive use. It is however, admitted that the plaintiff had stopped the sale of his goods under this trade mark for some time (period of non-user not mentioned ). It is further alleged that the defendants used to sell tobacco under trademarks of "patanga" and "hari BIHARI" but have recently started using plaintiff s trademark "suraj CHHAP" and copied the design of his pouches knowing fully well plaintiff s reputation in his product in the market. Plaintiff has accordingly filed this suit.
( 3 ) ON his I. A. No. 7665/99 filed along with the suit, an ex parte ad interim injunction was granted on 12. 8. 1999 restraining the defendants from using the trademark "suraj CHHAP" or pouches or labels identical or deceptively similar to those of the plaintiff.
( 4 ) DEFENDANTS have not filed written statement but have filed an application I. A. 8739/99 under Order 39 Rule 4, Civil Procedure Code for vacating this ex parte injunction with detailed facts. In this application, broadly the pleas taken are: (1) that the plaintiff has made a wrong statement that his trademark is registered, plaintiff s registration is neither in respect of "suraj CHHAP" but was in respect of scented Chewing Tobacco which is manufactured tobacco; (2) that the plaintiff s trademark was registered with a disclaimer of the word "suraj" and the device of "sun" which fact has not been disclosed and has been suppressed and plaintiff has obtained an ex parte injunction by mis-representation of facts and fraudulently. The plaintiff has got no right as registered proprietor in respect of the label trade mark "suraj CHHAP" and the device of "sun"; (3) that defendants are ir. the trade of tobacco since the year 1956, having copyright registration in respect of "sun BRAND" Hukka Tobacco since 10. 5. 1976; and in the year 1993 they had started marketing unmanufactured raw tobacco in pouches under the marks of "suraj CHHAP" tobacco and "asliharipanni" in distinctive pouches. The sale figures in respect of six years from 1993-94 to 1998-99 have also been given the annual sale figures being Rs. 10,62,257. 50 in 1993-94 and Rs. 17,66,250. 00, in the year 1998-99; the defendants thus claim to be well established in the business of tobacco, enjoying good reputati
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