SC Upholds Stay on ₹340 Crore Damages in Amazon Trademark Dispute
The Supreme Court (SC) has declined to lift the Delhi High Court’s stay on an order directing Amazon Technologies to pay ₹340 crore in damages to Lifestyle Equities CV. The suit, filed in 2020, alleges infringement of the Beverly Hills Polo Club trademark. The matter remains pending before the High Court.
DHC Orders Customs to Probe Colgate’s Trade Dress Claim on Chinese Dental Products
The Delhi High Court (DHC) has directed Mundra customs to examine Chinese dental hygiene imports accused of imitating Colgate’s trade dress. Colgate-Palmolive alleged that toothbrushes and toothpastes under the brand “Doctor Good” copy its iconic red-and-blue packaging, risking consumer confusion.
DHC Sends Ambuja–JSW Cement Trademark Row to Mediation
The Delhi High Court (DHC) has referred Ambuja Cements’ trademark dispute with JSW Cement to mediation. Ambuja contends that JSW’s use of “Jal Kavach” infringes and dilutes its “Ambuja Kawach” mark, amounting to passing off and unfair competition. The suit alleges that JSW’s adoption of the mark was dishonest and intended to mislead consumers.
DHC Grants Relief to A. R. Rahman in Ponniyin Selvan 2 Copyright Dispute
The Delhi High Court (DHC) has set aside a single-judge order that directed A. R. Rahman and Ponniyin Selvan 2 producers to pay ₹2 crore to the Dagar family for alleged copyright infringement of their composition “Shiva Stuti.” The division bench extended Rahman the benefit of doubt, holding that conclusive findings on infringement require detailed examination at trial.
MHC Seeks Response from Vijay and TVK in Flag Trademark Dispute
The Madras High Court (MHC) has directed actor-politician Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), to respond to an appeal challenging the use of their party flag. The appeal alleges that TVK’s flag infringes upon the trademark of a trust’s flag, claiming visual and conceptual similarities. The Division Bench will hear the matter in six weeks.
CGPDTM Adds Public Search Check Option in TM-A E-Filing
The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has introduced a new step in the e-filing of TM-A applications. Applicants are now asked to confirm whether the proposed mark has been checked through the Public Search tool before filing. The move is aimed at encouraging applicants to conduct prior clearance searches, potentially reducing objections and improving filing quality.
Elon Musk’s xAI Sues OpenAI Alleging Trade Secret Theft
Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing it of stealing trade secrets. The complaint alleges that former xAI employees shared proprietary information, including Grok chatbot source code and data center operations, in breach of confidentiality agreements. OpenAI denies the claims, calling the lawsuit part of Musk’s ongoing harassment campaign.
Element Biosciences Sues Illumina Over Antitrust and Patent Violations
Element Biosciences has filed lawsuits against Illumina in federal courts in California and Delaware, alleging antitrust violations and patent infringement in the next-generation DNA sequencing market. Element accuses Illumina of monopolistic practices, including driving up prices and suppressing innovation. Illumina denies the allegations, asserting that Element is exploiting its innovations without proper compensation.
Universal Music Prevails in Copyright Dispute Over Mary J. Blige’s 1992 Sample
A New York federal court has dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Tuff City Records against Universal Music Group over Mary J. Blige’s 1992 hit “Real Love.” The court found the song not substantially similar to the Honey Drippers’ 1973 track “Impeach the President,” ruling that a typical listener would not perceive appropriation.
EUIPO Blocks “JNANEL” Mark After Chanel Opposition
The EUIPO has refused registration of the mark “JNANEL” for clothing and accessories, siding with Chanel in an opposition. The tribunal found the applied mark visually and phonetically similar to “CHANEL,” creating a likelihood of confusion. Despite only “normal” inherent distinctiveness being attributed to Chanel’s name, its reputation and consumer recall tipped the balance in Chanel’s favor.
Google Secures U.S. Court Ruling Against LATAM Airlines Over YouTube Video
A U.S. federal court has issued a preliminary injunction preventing LATAM Airlines from enforcing a Brazilian court order that would require Google to remove a YouTube video in the United States. The video, posted by Raymond Moreira, features his son alleging sexual abuse by a LATAM employee. The court found that enforcing the Brazilian order would likely violate U.S. law.
