LiveLawBiz IPR Weekly Digest: July 20 - July 26, 2026

Update: 2026-07-28 03:42 GMT

SUPREME COURT

Supreme Court Appoints Amicus Curiae In Patent Case Over Human-AI Integration Technology

Case Title: Caleb Suresh Motupalli v. Controller Of Patents

Case Number: SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) Diary No(s). 20319/2026

The Supreme Court has appointed Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar as Amicus Curiae in a patent dispute concerning an invention that claims to enhance human capabilities by integrating them with artificial intelligence. The inventor describes the technology as creating a "Pan-Environment Super-Cyborg" through a method for super-augmenting a persona. A bench of Justice K.V. Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe is presiding over the matter.

HIGH COURTS

DELHI HIGH COURT

Requiring AI Companies To Obtain Multiple Licences For LLM Training Would Be Economically Unviable: Delhi High Court

Case Title: ANI Media Pvt Ltd v. Open AI OpCo LLC

Case Number: CS(COMM) 1028/2024

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(DEL) 734

The Delhi High Court noted that requiring AI firms to obtain licences from every data source would make the development of Large Language Models (LLMs) economically unviable. The court emphasized that the success of AI models depends on accessing information in the public domain while hearing ANI's copyright infringement suit against OpenAI.

Delhi High Court Restrains Copyright Holders From Issuing Groundless Infringement Threats Against TVS

Case Title: TVS Motor Company Limited v. Ram Chandra Maurya & Ors.

Case Number: CS(COMM) 767/2026

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(DEL) 732

Justice Jyoti Singh restrained the holders of two copyright registrations from issuing further groundless threats of legal proceedings against TVS Motor Company. The dispute involved allegations that TVS engines and vehicles used features covered by the defendants' registered literary works, which TVS sought to declare as groundless.

OpenAI's Use Of ANI Content To Train ChatGPT Is Not Prima Facie Copyright Infringement: Delhi High Court

Case Title: ANI Media Pvt Ltd v. Open AI OpCo LLC

Case Number: CS(COMM) 1028/2024

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(DEL) 734

The court dismissed ANI's plea for an interim injunction against OpenAI, ruling that the news agency failed to make out a prima facie case of copyright infringement regarding the training of ChatGPT. Justice Amit Bansal upheld the court's territorial jurisdiction but found no immediate grounds to restrain OpenAI's use of content.

Delhi High Court Restrains 14 More Websites From Using 'BETWAY' Trademark

Case Title: Merryvale Limited v. John Doe & Ors.

Case Number: CS(COMM) 678/2024

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 728

The court extended interim protection to Merryvale Limited, the proprietor of the "BETWAY" mark, by restraining 14 additional rogue websites from using the trademark or deceptively similar marks. Justice Jyoti Singh directed that these sites be blocked within 36 hours to prevent further trademark infringement in the online betting sector.

Delhi High Court Restrains Delhi Restaurant From Using 'LAMA KITCHEN' Mark

Case Title: Satinder Singh Sarna & Anr. v. Lama Kitchen

Case Number: CS(COMM) 744/2026

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 726

Justice Jyoti Singh temporarily restrained a Delhi-based restaurant from using the "LAMA KITCHEN" mark after finding a prima facie case of trademark infringement and passing off. The court noted that the balance of convenience favoured the original Himachal Pradesh-based proprietors of the registered mark.

'Piracy Must Be Dealt With A Heavy Hand': Delhi High Court Grants Sony Relief Against 14 Rogue Websites

Case Title: Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited v. Cricgo.pro & Ors.

Case Number: CS(COMM) 753/2026

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 725

Observing that rogue websites pose a recurring threat, the court granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction to Sony Pictures. The order restrains 14 websites from unauthorizedly streaming or hosting any part of the Commonwealth Games 2026 and the Australian Open 2027, for which Sony holds exclusive broadcast rights.

Delhi High Court Restrains Former JK Paper Employees From Using Company's Confidential Report

Case Title: JK Paper Limited v. Mr. Subhendu Kesh & Ors.

Case Number: CS(COMM) 719/2026

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 724

The court temporarily restrained former IT department employees of JK Paper from using the company's proprietary "Purta/Purtha" report. The company alleged the employees resigned en masse, took confidential data, and set up a competing business. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani granted protection pending further scrutiny of a forensic report.

Delhi High Court Directs Meta To Remove Zee's Copyrighted Content From 14 Facebook Pages

Case Title: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited v. Meta Platforms Inc. & Ors.

Case Number: CS(COMM) 729/2026

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 722

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani directed Meta to take down infringing content featuring Zee's television serials and web series from 14 Facebook pages. While declining to block the accounts entirely at this stage, the court granted an ad-interim order to prevent continued copyright infringement.

Delhi High Court Temporarily Restrains NBFC From Using 'Zepto' And 'Zepto Finance' Marks

Case Title: Zepto Limited & Anr. v. Sailendra Kashyap & Ors.

Case Number: CS(COMM) - 752/2026

The quick-commerce platform Zepto secured an ad-interim injunction against Naman Finlease, restraining it from using "Zepto" and "Zepto Finance" for its lending business. Justice Jyoti Singh found that Zepto is the registered proprietor of the "coined" term, which has no descriptive connection to financial services.

Delhi High Court Restrains Havai Home Products From Using 'HAVAI' Mark in Havells Passing Off Suit

Case Title: Havells India Limited & Anr. v. Havai Home Products Pvt. Ltd. & Ors.

Case Number: CS(COMM) 778/2024

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 718

The court restrained Havai Home Products and Advance Coolers from selling electrical goods under the "HAVAI" marks. Justice Jyoti Singh held that the marks were deceptively similar to Havells' registered trademarks, establishing a prima facie case of passing off.

Uniqueness' Not A Statutory Test For Refusing Trademark Registration: Delhi High Court

Case Title: ADS Spirits Pvt. Ltd. v. The Registrar of Trade Marks

Case Number: C.A.(COMM.IPD-TM) 8/2026 and I.A. 3697/2026

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 723

The Delhi High Court has recently set aside an order refusing registration of the trademark 'OFFER' for alcoholic beverages. It held that the Registrar of Trade Marks rejected the application by applying the non-statutory test of "uniqueness" instead of examining whether the mark was distinctive in relation to the goods for which registration was sought.

Delhi High Court Sets Aside Refusal Of Patent For Cancer Drug Combination, Orders Fresh Review

Case Title: Array Biopharma Inc v. Deputy Controller of Patents and Designs

Case Number: C.A.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 37/2023

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(DEL) 736

The Delhi High Court has set aside the refusal of a US company's patent application for a pharmaceutical combination used to treat proliferative diseases, including colorectal cancer. Holding that the Deputy Controller's findings on inventive step and patentability under Sections 3(d) and 3(i) of the Patents Act could not be sustained, the court remanded the matter for fresh consideration.

BOMBAY HIGH COURT

Bombay High Court Dismisses 'SUNDAY' Trademark Renewal Plea, Finds Notice Properly Dispatched

Case Title: Raju Patel & Anr. v. The Registrar of Trade Marks, Mumbai

Case Number: WRIT PETITION NO.4868 OF 2025

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC BOM 409

The Bombay High Court dismissed a writ petition seeking the renewal of the "SUNDAY" trademark, ruling that the Trade Marks Registry had fulfilled its statutory obligation. The court held that by proving the renewal notice was properly dispatched to the address for service before the registration expired, the Registry triggered the statutory presumption of service.

Bombay High Court Temporarily Restrains Niravi From Using 'SAPAT' Trademark For Tea

Case Title: SAPAT International Private Limited v. Niravi Consumer LLP & Ors.

Case Number: INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 6387 OF 2025 IN COMMERCIAL IP SUIT NO. 612 OF 2025 WITH COMMERCIAL IP SUIT NO. 612 OF 2025 INTERIM APPLICATION (L) NO. 18951 OF 2025

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC BOM 408

The court has restrained Niravi Consumer LLP from using the "SAPAT" trademark for tea, finding that the defendants failed to establish any independent right to the mark. Justice Sharmila U. Deshmukh observed that Niravi's use of "SAPAT" signages while selling its "NIRAVI" tea was likely to cause consumer confusion and infringed upon the registered trademark of SAPAT International.

MADRAS HIGH COURT

Madras High Court Grants Relief To Zee Against Apprehended Copyright Infringement Of 'Bhootam Bhayam' Film

Case Title: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited v. Bharath Sanchar Nigam Limited & Ors.

Case Number: OA Nos. 718 & 719 of 2026 in C.S(COMM DIV) NO. 208 OF 2026

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(MAD) 198

The court temporarily restrained ISPs and cable TV operators from infringing the copyright of the Marathi film Bhootam Bhayam. Justice K. Kumaresh Babu passed the order to prevent "irreversible injury" from apprehended unlawful broadcasts following the film's July 24 release.

Madras High Court Sets Aside Rejection of US Company's Patent For Pet Appetite Drug

Case Title: Elanco US Inc v. Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs

Case Number: CMA(PT) No. 37 of 2024

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(MAD) 193

The court set aside the Patent Office's rejection of Elanco's application for a pet appetite drug and remanded it for fresh consideration. Justice K. Kumaresh Babu noted contradictions in the Controller's order, which claimed the invention was substantially the same as an earlier one while simultaneously recording differences.

CALCUTTA HIGH COURT

Anchor Agrees Before Calcutta High Court To Drop 'First and Only' Toothpaste Claims In 18-Year Dispute With HUL

Case Title: Hindustan Unilever Limited v. Anchor Health and Beauty Care Private Ltd.

Case Number: CS/96/2008

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(CAL) 178

Hindustan Unilever and Anchor Health settled an 18-year-old commercial disparagement dispute. Under the terms of the settlement accepted by Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay, Anchor agreed to cease advertising its toothpaste as the "first and only (Sirf)" product containing Triclosan, Fluoride, and Calcium, or as India's "First All-Round Protection Toothpaste"

KARNATAKA HIGH COURT

Karnataka High Court Clears Release Of 'BOSS' Movie, Rejects Darshan's Plea Over Renukaswamy Murder Case Similarities

Case Title: Darshan Srinivas & Anr. v. Siri Productions & Ors.

Case Number: MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 4257 OF 2026

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(KAR) 126

The Karnataka High Court dismissed an appeal by actor Darshan and his wife seeking to block the release of the film BOSS. Justice Pradeep Singh held that mere similarities between the film and a pending murder trial in which the actor is an accused were not sufficient to justify an interim injunction.

KERALA HIGH COURT

Kerala High Court Orders Registrar To Decide Trademark Applications Pending For Over A Decade In Three Months

Case Title: Nisar Ali Pari v. The Registrar of Trademarks & Ors.

Case Number: WP(C) NO. 22356 OF 2026

Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(KER) 138

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas directed the Registrar of Trademarks to pass orders within three months on two applications that have been pending since 2012 and 2014. The court noted that it was unacceptable for the applications to remain undisposed of for more than a decade.

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