High Court Of Delhi
GOLD STAR COMPANY LIMITED - Appellant
Versus
GOLD STAR INDUS.LIMITED - Respondent
Interim Application 63 of 1987
Decided On : 12/01/1994
Held:
It is the case of the defendant that after the registration of the trade mark "Gold Star", the plaintif has not been using the said trade mark for its products in India for its goods falling under class 7 to 11 though plaintiff may have been selling its goods under this Trade mark all over the world. This argument has been refuted and attention was drawn to the fact that the plaintiffs had been bringing knock down parts in India and after reassembling the same those were sold in Indian market under the trade name "Gold Star". thereforee, prima facie, it cannot be said that the plaintiff intentionally wanted to abandon or not to use the trade mark in relation to its goods under the trade mark "Gold Star". The plaintiff has in fact pleaded that he could not bring the finished goods to India due to the import restrictions. But at the same time had been bringing parts in "knock down condition" and after assembling selling the same in Indian market. The fact that the the plaintiff could not bring its finished goods due to import restrictions is mentioned in para 8 of the application. Whereas, in reply to this para, defendants have merely.
The non-user of the trade mark by the company due to the import restriction imposed by the Government of India would constitute special circumstances within the weaning of Section 46(3) of the Act justifying non-user of the trade mark. Similarly , in this case ban imposed by the Govt. of India would constitute special circumstance for non user of the trade mark. If the plaintiff, had no intention to use the trade mark, it would not have entered into collaboration agreement nor the Government of India would have approved the same. thereforee, prima facie it cannot be said that the plaintiff when got its trade mark registered had no intention to use it. Hence plaintiff cannot be deprived of the fruits of its registration. Prima facie, the acts of the plaintiff as observed above falls under sub Section 3 of Section 46 of the Act.
It has been the case of the plaintiff herein that he had been advertising his goods under the trade mark "Gold Star" in journals and in newspapers which are being circulated in India. This shows that the plaintiff had been advertising its goods which according to the observation of the Calcutta high Court would amount to use. If that be so then, prima facie, it cannot be said that there was no user of the trade mark for a long period.
( 1 ) BY this application M/s Gold Star Co. Ltd. , plaintiff had sought an ex parte inter locutory order, inter alia, on the grounds that the plaintiff is a registered proprietor of the trade mark "gold Star" in respect of electric washing machines, electric pumps included in class-7 and electric mixing machines, elevator and escalator vide Trade Mark No. 333391 of 10th February,1978. Similarly, vide Trade Mark No. 333392 of 10th February, 1978 in Class-9, plaintiff s trade mark is registered in respect of Television, radio, transistor, tape recorder etc. Vide Trade Mark No. 333393 in Class-11 as of 10th February,1978 in respect of electric fans, refrigerators, air conditioner etc. Vide Trade Mark No. 3333963 as of 10th February,1978 in respect of television, radio, transistors, tape recorder etc. included in Class-9, plaintiff also applied for registration of trade mark "gold Star" vide Trade Mark Registry No. 33339 dated 10th February,1978 in Class-14 in respect of electrical clocks and vide No. 333397 in Class-11 in respect of refrigerators, air conditioners, electric toaster etc. Registered trade mark of the plaintiff "gold Star" has been renewed from time to time. The trade mark "gold Star" of the plaintiff is known all over the world. This trade mark of the plaintiff is registered in almost 100 countries of the world. Plaintiff s goods are of quality and have international market. In India, the plaintiff could not import goods because of import restrictions. But parts were imported and re-assembled in India and then sold in the market. Plaintiff has also been negotiating collaboration with Greysham International Pvt. Ltd. Plaintiff offered technical know- how to the said company in respect of washing machine in India. Pursuance to the said agreement which is duly approved by the Government of India, plaintiff sent a washing machine to the said Greysham International Pvt. Ltd. Plaintiff has also exported and sold TV parts under the trade mark "gold Star" to India from 1982 onwards. Plaintiffs had been advertising their goods under the trade mark "gold Star" in generals in India. Because of the quality of the plaintiff s product, plaintiffs are getting offers from Indian manufacturers for collaboration and for giving their know-how. Plaintiff s trade mark "gold Star" has achieved reputation, goodwill and name in India. Caution notice was issued to the public in India through the media not to buy the products, other than that of the plaintiff under the trade mark "gold Star". It was somewhere in November,1986 that plaintiff found in the newspaper that the defendants had adopted the trade mark "gold Star" and were using the same in respect of their product washing machines, for which the plaintiff is the registered proprietor. In this advertisement they also stated that they would be introducing geysers, heat covectors and hot cases. Notice was served on the defendant. Instead of complying with the said notice, defendants filed a suit in December,1986 against the plaintiff seeking declaration to the effect that the threat given by the plaintiff in its notice dated 12th November,1986 was unjustified and further that the Court should declare the defendant herein (plaintiff in that suit) to be the owner and proprietor of the trade mark "gold Star" and restrain the present plaintiff from interfering in any manner with the business of this defendant (plaintiff before that Court ).
( 2 ) THAT defendant s use of plaintiff s registered trade mark "gold Star" in respect of their product namely, washing machines is in fact an infringement of the plaintiff s trade mark. Similarly, use of the trade mark "gold Star" in respect of fans is also infringement of plaintiff s registered trade mark. It amounts to passing of defendant s goods as that of the plaintiff. Not only the defendants are passing of their goods as plaintiff s goods under the trade mark "gold Star" but the defendants have also incorporated plaintiff s regist
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