Neutral Citation Number : 2023/DHC/000019

C.A.(COMM.IPD-TM) 158/2022 & cont. matter

Page 1 of 79

$~ (Original)

*

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

Reserved on 14^th December 2022

Pronounced on 4^th January 2023

+

C.A.(COMM.IPD-TM) 158/2022, I.A. 20094/2022, I.A.

20095/2022 and I.A. 20096/2022

ARMASUISSE

..... Appellant

Through:

Mr.

Pravin

Anand,

Mr.

Shrawan Chopra, Ms. Madhu Rewari, Mr.

Vibhav Mittal, Ms. Shree Mishra, Mr.

Achyut Tewari, Advs.

versus

THE TRADE MARK REGISTRY & ANR. ..... Respondents

Through:

Mr. Akhil Sibal, Sr. Adv. with

Mr. Anirudh Bakhru, Mr. S.K.Bansal, Mr.

Rishi Bansal, Mr. Ajay Amitabh Suman, Mr.

Anmol Kakkar, Mr. Aditya Rajesh, Ms.

Aishwarya, Ms.Asavari, Ms. Sanya and Ms.

Tejaswini Chandrashekar, Advs. for R-2

+

C.A.(COMM.IPD-TM) 159/2022, I.A. 20153/2022, I.A.

20154/2022 and I.A. 20155/2022

ARMASUISSE

..... Appellant

Through:

Mr.

Pravin

Anand,

Mr.

Shrawan Chopra, Ms. Madhu Rewari, Mr.

Vibhav Mittal, Ms. Shree Mishra, Mr.

Achyut Tewari, Advs.

Versus

THE TRADE MARKS REGISTRY & ANR..... Respondents

Through:

Mr. Akhil Sibal, Sr. Adv. with

Mr. Anirudh Bakhru, Mr. S.K.Bansal, Mr.

Rishi Bansal, Mr. Ajay Amitabh Suman, Mr.

Anmol Kakkar, Mr. Aditya Rajesh, Ms.

Aishwarya, Ms.Asavari, Ms. Sanya and Ms.

Digitally Signed

By:SUNIL SINGH NEGI

Signing Date:04.01.2023

15:28:31

Signature Not Verified

Neutral Citation Number : 2023/DHC/000019

C.A.(COMM.IPD-TM) 158/2022 & cont. matter

Page 2 of 79

Tejaswini Chandrashekar, Advs. for R-2

CORAM:

HON‟BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR

%

J U D G M E N T

04.01.2023

C.A.(COMM.IPD-TM) 158/2022, I.A. 20094/2022, I.A. 20095/2022

and I.A. 20096/2022

C.A.(COMM.IPD-TM) 159/2022, I.A. 20153/2022, I.A. 20154/2022

and I.A. 20155/2022

1.

These appeals involve cognate issues. Submissions advanced at

the bar by both sides are also overlapping. As such, they have been

taken up and disposed of together.

2.

The appellant is a Federal Agency of the Swiss Federation, and

procures armaments for Switzerland‘s Federal Department of

Defence, Civil Protection and Sport. The appellant, therefore,

represents, essentially, the military wing of the Swiss Government.

3.

Respondent 2, in these appeals, Promoshirt SM S.A.

(―Promoshirt‖, hereinafter) applied to the Registrar of Trademarks,

New Delhi for registration of the trademarks (i) ―SWISS

MILITARY‖in Class 25 in respect of clothing, readymade garments,

footwear, headgear, coats, overcoats, jackets, jerseys, undergarments,

socks‖ and (ii)

the mark

in Class 25 in respect of ―textile

industries‖. Both applications were on ―proposed to be used‖ basis.

The appellant opposed the applications. The opposition of the

appellant was rejected, and the trademarks were permitted registration

by the learned Deputy Registrar of Trademarks vide separate orders

Digitally Signed

By:SUNIL SINGH NEGI

Signing Date:04.01.2023

15:28:31

Signature Not Verified

Neutral Citation Number : 2023/DHC/000019

C.A.(COMM.IPD-TM) 158/2022 & cont. matter

Page 3 of 79

dated 25^th July 2022. The appellant has, by means of these appeals,

assailed the said orders and, therefore, contested the right of the

aforesaid trademarks ―SWISS MILITARY‖ and

to registration

under the Trademarks Act, 1999 (―the Trademarks Act‖).

4.

I may note, here, the appellant‘s precise grievance. Mr. Pravin

Anand, appearing for the appellant, submits that the appellant has no

objection to Respondent 2 using the

logo per se, as a white cross

on a black background, for its products. His client, however, seriously

objects to Respondent 2 being permitted to register or use either (i) a

white cross on a red background, i.e.

or (ii) the appellation

―SWISS MILITARY‖. Neither mark, submits Mr Anand, can be

permitted either to be registered or used, in view of various statutory

proscriptions which are in place. What Respondent 2 actually uses