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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
C. Hari Shankar, J.
Lifelong Online Retail Private Limited - Appellant
Versus
Anita Gupta - Respondent
CS(COMM) 424 of 2022 & I.A. 17712 of 2022
Decided On : 08-12-2022




Trademark infringement is addressed when a defendant undertakes not to use a contested mark, leading to permanent injunctions to prevent confusion or deception in the marketplace.

Headnote:(A) Trademark Act, 1999 - Sections relevant to infringement and passing off - Proprietorship of trademarks - Plaintiff asserts rights over registered trademarks with goodwill. Defendant undertakes not to use the impugned mark, thus assuaging plaintiff's grievances. (Paras 1-6)

(B) Infringement - Permanent injunction is granted to restrain the defendant from using the impugned mark which could cause confusion or deception. (Paras 6, 7)

(C) Damages - Claims for damages and other reliefs were rendered unnecessary due to the defendant's commitment not to use the mark. (Paras 7, 8)

Facts of the case:
The plaintiff holds certain registered trademarks and claims infringement by the defendant who sought registration of a similar mark but has not used it.

Findings of Court:
The court decreed permanent injunctions against the defendant for potential trademark infringement and passing off while denying further claims as moot due to the undertaking.

Issues: Whether the defendant's absence of usage and subsequent undertaking to withdraw their application addresses the plaintiff's grievances regarding trademark infringement.

Ratio Decidendi: The undertaking by the defendant removes the need for further litigation on the usage of the mark, allowing the court to focus on preventing future confusion and upholding the plaintiff's trademark rights.

Result: The suit stands decreed as per the terms of the injunction.

Table of Content
1. plaintiff's trademark registration and claimed goodwill. (Para 1 , 2)
2. defendant's undertakings regarding trademark usage. (Para 3 , 4 , 5)
3. specific injunction requests made by the plaintiff. (Para 6)
4. court's decision and orders based on plaintiff's prayers. (Para 7 , 8 , 9 , 10)

JUDGMENT (Oral)

C. Hari Shankar, J.

1. The plaintiff, in this plaint, asserts proprietorial rights in respect of the trademark , which is registered in favour of the plaintiff under Classes 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 28 of the Schedule to the Trademark Rules in respect of various kinds of consumer durables. The plaint asserts that the plaintiff has accumulated considerable goodwill in respect of its marks.

2. The defendant has applied for registration of the mark for beard clippers; razors, hair clippers and depilatory appliances, electric trimmers etc with the Registry of Trademarks on a proposed to be used basis on 12th February 2021. The said proposed mark, submits the plaintiff, would infringe the plaintiff's registered trademarks.

3. Ms. Deepika Pokharia, learned Counsel for the defendant submits, on instructions, that her client has never commenced using the impugned mark and also undertakes not to use the impugned mark for any goods or services, albeit without prejudice to their rights and contentions in the present case as they do not admit the factum of infringement.

4. Nonetheless, in view of the fact that the defendant has undertaken not to use the mark, the grievance of the plaintiff in the present case stands assuaged.

5. Ms. Deepika Pokharia also submits that they would withdraw their application for registration of the impugned mark from the Registry of Trademarks.

6. The prayer clause in the present case reads as under:

    "It is therefore prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to grant:

    (i) A decree of permanent injunction restraining the Defendant, its proprietor, its principal officers, servants, distributors, licensees, and agents, and all others acting for and on behalf of the Defendant, from manufacturing, selling, distributing, offering for sale, advertising, directly or indirectly dealing in any goods, under the Impugned Mark -"Lifelong" or any other mark as may be identical to or deceptively similar with the Plaintiff's registered trade mark "Lifelong", so as to cause infringement of the Plaintiff's Trade Marks;

    (ii) A decree of permanent injunction restraining the Defendant, its proprietor, its principal officers, servants, distributors, licensees and agents, and all others acting for and on behalf of the Defendant, from manufacturing, selling, distributing, offering for sale, advertising, directly or indirectly dealing in any goods, under the Impugned Mark "Lifelong" or any other mark as may be identical to or deceptively similar with the Plaintiff's Trade Marks "Lifelong", so as to cause confusion or deception leading to passing off of the Defendant's goods as those of the Plaintiff;

    (iii) A decree of permanent injunction restraining the Defendant, its proprietor, its principal officers, servants, distributors, licensees and agents, and all others acting for and on behalf of the Defendant, from manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, advertising, directly or indirectly dealing in any goods, under the Impugned Mark "Lifelong" or any other mark as may be identical to or deceptively similar with the Plaintiff's Trade Marks "Lifelong", so as to cause confusion or deception leading to unfair trade practice;

    (iv) An order of permanent injunction restraining the Defendant to not write to any third party including the e- commerce platforms to take down the Plaintiff's products having the Plaintiff's Trade Mark "Lifelong";

    (v) An order for delivery up of all the infringing material having the Impugned Mark "Lifelong" including printed material, packaging material, containers, posters, blocks, dyes, stationery material or any other printing material;

    (vi) An order of rendition of acc

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