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SUNITA AGARWAL, PRANAV TRIVEDI
Vikas Oil Industries – Appellant
Versus
Mangrol Oil Mill – Respondent
JUDGMENT :
(Sunita Agarwal, CJ.) :
1. The instant appeal under Order 43 Rule 1 (r) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 read with Section 13 of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 has been preferred against the judgment and order dated 11.08.2023 passed by the Additional District Judge, Commercial Court Judge, Morbi on an interim injunction application Exhibit 5 in a suit for infringement of the trade mark and passing off as also for rendition of accounts and damages. The relief claimed in the suit are for perpetual injunction restraining the defendants through their proprietor, partners, servants, agents, etc. all persons associated or connected with the business of the defendants from adopting and/or using the impugned marks “Rose” and/ or “Rose”/ “Gulab” in any manner or from adopting or using any marks identically or deceptively similar to the registered trade mark “Gulab”, which is a prior used trade mark of the plaintiffs in respect of business of their groundnut oils, edible oils and cooking oils of whatsoever nature. On the plea of commission of the acts of passing off by the defendants, permanent injunction has been sought.
2. During the pendency of the suit, Exhibit 5 interim
The judgment underscores that trademark registration alone does not guarantee protection without actual use, and that delay in action does not preclude injunction if infringement is proven.
The principle of prior user of a trademark prevails over subsequent registrations, especially when confusion or association is likely between goods and services of similar trade sectors.
Infringement of trade mark - Business in infringement of a registered design or a mark or is guilty of passing off, such a business cannot be said to be carried on in accordance with law and no right....
The central legal point established in the judgment is the significance of prior use and the principles of honest adoption, delay, and acquiescence in trademark disputes.
The court upheld the plaintiff's rights as the prior user and registered owner of the trademark, granting an injunction against the defendant's use of a similar mark due to the likelihood of consumer....
Important Point :The use of a trademark that is phonetically and visually similar to a registered trademark can lead to confusion, constituting infringement, especially when dishonest conduct is evid....
The failure to renew a trademark registration leads to abandonment, allowing subsequent users to claim rights.
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