IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
C. Hari Shankar, J.
Birla Institute of Technology And Science, Pilani – Appellant
Versus
Maa Bhagwati Educational Society & Anr. – Respondents
CS(COMM) 96 of 2023 & I.A. 3484 of 2023, I.A. 5992 of 2023
Decided On : 28-03-2023
Trademark Infringement - Settlement Agreement - The court decreed the suit in terms of the settlement agreement reached between the parties, which included acknowledgment of the plaintiff's exclusive rights in its trademarks, undertaking not to use the infringing marks, and transferring the domain name to the plaintiff.
Fact of the Case:
The parties jointly filed a settlement agreement seeking decreeing of the suit in terms of the settlement arrived at between them, which included acknowledgment of the plaintiff's exclusive rights in its trademarks and various undertakings by the defendants.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the dispute between the parties stood amicably resolved and decreed the suit in terms of the settlement agreement, stating that nothing survived for adjudication in the present suit.
Issues: The main issue was the resolution of the dispute between the parties through a settlement agreement and the decreeing of the suit based on the terms of the settlement.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the settlement agreement reached between the parties, which resolved the dispute and led to the decreeing of the suit in terms of the settlement.
Final Decision: The suit was decreed in terms of the settlement agreement reached between the parties, and the court ordered the drawing up of a decree sheet accordingly, with the plaintiff entitled to a refund of the court fees.
ORDER (Oral)
I.A. 5992/2023 (under Order XXIII Rule 3 of the CPC)
1. The dispute between the parties stands amicably resolved.
2. I.A. 5992/2023 has been jointly filed by the parties, seeking decreeing of the suit in terms of the settlement arrived at between them.
3. The terms of settlement may be reproduced thus:
"3. That the Plaintiff and the Defendants have arrived at a settlement under the terms and conditions mentioned hereinunder
(a) That the Defendants acknowledge the sole and exclusive statutory and common law rights of the Plaintiff in its trademark 'BITS'/'BITS PILANI' and other `BITS' formative trademarks of the Plaintiff, and undertake that they shall (collectively and/or severally) never offer any services/goods and/or advertise (print and/or electronic) under, adopt and/or use in any manner whatsoever, the impugned marks 'BITS GHAZIABAD'/[IMG]'BITS'/'BITS PILANI' and/or other 'BITS'-formative trademarks of the Plaintiff and/or any other trademark identical and/or deceptively similar to the Plaintiff's trademarks;
(b) That the Defendants agree and undertake that the Defendants, their trustees, directors, officers, agents, associates and all other acting for and on their behalf shall not represent in any manner whatsoever that they (severally and/or collectively) are connected/associated with the Plaintiff;
(c) That the Defendants agree and undertake that the Defendants, their trustees, directors, officers, agents, associates and all other acting for and on their behalf shall not use the domain name "https://www.bits.ac.in/and permanently transfer the same to the Plaintiff, and shall further not use any other domain name/social media account/profile usernames, etc., which contain Plaintiff's trademark 7BITS/BITS PILANI' and/or other BITS' formative trademarks of the Plaintiff and/or any other domain name deceptively similar thereto;
(d) That the Defendants agree and undertake that the Defendants shall deliver to the Plaintiff for destruction and/or permanently destroy all the brochures, pamphlets, stationery, advertisement material, blocks or dies, packing materials, cartons, folders, stamps, containers, display boards, banners, uniforms, belts and any other documents or infringing material bearing/incorporating the impugned trademarks 'BITS GHAZIABAD'/[IMG], or any other trademark(s) deceptively similar to and/or ' incorporating BITS'/BITS PILANI and/or other `BITS' formative trademarks of the Plaintiff;
(e) That subject to the above mentioned, the Plaintiff has no objection to the Defendants using their complete name/trademark "Bhagwati Institute of Technology & Science"."
4. The parties are represented by their Counsel who, on behalf of their respective clients, undertake to remain bound by the terms of settlement.
5. Accordingly, nothing survives for adjudication in the present suit.
6. The suit is, accordingly, decreed in terms of the aforesaid settlement arrived at between them by which they shall remain bound.
7. Let a decree sheet be drawn up accordingly.
8. The plaintiff shall be entitled to refund the court fees, if any, deposited by it.
9. Miscellaneous pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.
10. The next date already fixed before the learned Joint Registrar (Judicial), i.e. 24th April 2023 stands cancelled.
Enforceability of settlement agreement under Order XXIII Rule 3 of the CPC.
The court upheld the legality and regularity of the settlement agreement, leading to the decree in terms of the agreement.
Settlement agreements can effectively resolve disputes in trademark infringement cases, allowing parties to acknowledge rights and agree on actions to prevent future violations.
The court has the authority to examine and decree a suit based on the terms of settlement between the parties under Order XXIII Rule 3 of the CPC.
Parties can resolve trademark disputes amicably through settlement, outlining mutual rights and obligations, which the court recognizes and enforces, avoiding litigation.
Enforceability of settlement agreements and their impact on the resolution of disputes.
Settlement agreements can resolve disputes and lead to the decree of a suit in terms of the settlement.
Amicable settlement between parties can lead to the decree of a suit and resolution of the dispute without further adjudication.
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