Raman Negi Sues Ex-Local Train Bandmates Over Hit Songs
Raman Negi, former lead vocalist of The Local Train, has sued his ex-bandmates in the Delhi High Court over songs from Aalas Ka Pedh and Vaaqif, including “Choo Lo” and “Aaoge Tum Kabhi”. He claims lyricist and composer rights were never assigned, seeking ownership declarations, royalty accounting, injunctions and damages for alleged unauthorised exploitation.
‘COX 5001’ Knocked Out in Haywards 5000 Lookalike Fight
The Bombay High Court has granted AB InBev a permanent injunction against Jagpin Breweries, holding “COX 5001” deceptively similar to long-established beer brand “Haywards 5000”. Finding a clear likelihood of confusion and passing off in the liquor market, the Court barred further use of the impugned mark or any confusing variant.
Kerala Court Finds Karmayodha Script Lifted, Awards ₹30 Lakh
A Kerala court has held filmmaker Major Ravi liable for plagiarising the screenplay of Karmayodha, finding substantial similarities with the plaintiff’s script. Rejecting the defence of coincidence and independent creation, the Court ruled there was copyright infringement and awarded ₹30 lakh in compensation for unauthorised copying and exploitation.
Instant Bollywood Founder Fined ₹20 Lakh for Hiding Trademark History
The Delhi High Court has imposed ₹20 lakh in costs on Mandeep Singh, founder of “Instant Bollywood”, for suppressing material facts about prior registrations and assignments involving Times Internet. Holding that equity demands full disclosure, the Court refused relief and used costs to underline that concealment can sink a trademark case.
Dabur’s ‘Pudin Hara’ Blocks Lookalike Wellford Mark, for Now
The Delhi High Court has stayed registration and use of the “Wellford Pudin Hara” mark in Class 5, citing Dabur’s prior adoption and continuous use of Pudin Hara since 1930. Finding prima facie mala fides and likelihood of confusion, the court also froze any transfer or third-party rights. Next hearing is on 17 March 2026.
‘Makhan Fish Corner’ Mark Revived as Court Raps Registry
The Delhi High Court has restored the “Makhan Fish Corner” trademark, setting aside its cancellation by the Trade Marks Registry. Criticising the Registry for non-application of mind, the court stressed that decisions affecting long-standing, goodwill-heavy marks must be reasoned and cannot be passed in a mechanical or cursory manner.
Bombay HC Pulls ‘Cefdon’ Cough Syrup for Mimicking ‘Cedon’
The Bombay High Court has restrained sale of cough syrup branded “Cefdon”, finding it deceptively similar to “Cedon”. Rejecting the argument that prescription-only status neutralises confusion, the court noted that medicines for common ailments are often bought casually and held that ordinary trademark principles protecting patients from confusion continue to apply.
Delhi HC Awards HERO Owner Damages Over Counterfeit Goods
The Delhi High Court upheld Hero Investcorp’s action against Kartar Industries for selling motorcycle parts bearing counterfeit “HERO” marks. Granting a permanent injunction for infringement and passing off, the Court also held the defendant guilty of contempt for obstructing a court-ordered search, imposing ₹5 lakh in penalties, with ₹2.5 lakh awarded to Hero Investcorp and ₹2.5 lakh directed to an NGO.
‘Kataria Insurance’ Blocked as Surname Defence Fails
The Bombay High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining Kataria Insurance Brokers from using “KATARIA INSURANCE” as a mark, domain or corporate name. Holding that the plaintiff’s registered KATARIA marks in Class 36 were prima facie infringed, the court ruled the surname defence cannot shield an incorporated entity offering identical insurance services.
Trimurti Films Sues Over ‘Saat Samundar Paar’ Remix in Tu Meri Main Tera
Trimurti Films has moved the Bombay High Court against Dharma Productions, Namah Pictures, Saregama and rapper Badshah, alleging unauthorised remix and use of 1992 hit “Saat Samundar Paar” in upcoming film Tu Meri Main Tera. Claiming its 1990 assignment excluded derivative rights, Trimurti seeks ₹10 crore, an injunction and accounts; urgent interim relief is listed for 22 December. 2025
Avatar Sequel Hit With Story-Theft Suit in US Court
Disney and director James Cameron face a copyright suit in California federal court over Avatar: The Way of Water. The plaintiff alleges elements of his science-fiction story were lifted without permission for the sequels, claiming unauthorised use of plot, characters and themes, and seeking unspecified damages for infringement.
X Corp Sues Startup Trying to ‘Revive’ Twitter Brand
X Corp has sued startup Operation Bluebird in Delaware federal court over attempts to claim and register “Twitter” trademarks. X argues the Twitter brand and related marks remain owned and in use despite the rebrand to X, and says Bluebird’s plans would confuse consumers and unlawfully trade on Twitter’s residual goodwill.
Adobe Faces Class Action Over Alleged AI Training on Books
Author Elizabeth Lyon has filed a proposed class action in California against Adobe, alleging it used copyrighted instructional books without permission to train its SlimLM AI models. The suit claims unauthorized use of instructional works in training datasets, seeking damages on behalf of affected authors.
Nvidia, Valeo Quietly End Trade Secret Fight Over Parking Tech
Nvidia and automotive supplier Valeo have settled a US trade secret lawsuit alleging a former Valeo engineer stole confidential source code for parking-assistance technology that later benefited Nvidia. Filed in 2023, the case was resolved before a scheduled January 2026 trial, with settlement terms kept confidential by the parties.
Lucasfilm Wins UK Appeal in Star Wars Likeness Battle
Lucasfilm and a Disney subsidary have prevailed in the UK Court of Appeal, which dismissed Tyburn Film Productions’ suit over the digital recreation of Peter Cushing’s likeness in Rogue One. The court held Tyburn failed to establish any proprietary right that passed to the defendants, ending its unjust-enrichment claim.
Acer, Asus, Hisense Win Interim FRAND Licence in Nokia Patent Row
London’s High Court has granted Acer, Asus and Hisense an interim patent licence in their dispute with Nokia over video streaming technology. The ruling allows continued device sales under a provisional per-device fee while final FRAND terms are set, preserving market access as the long-running licensing fight continues.
