Bombay High Court Restrains 'Bislie' Water Maker From Using Mark In Bisleri Trademark Suit

The Bombay High Court has temporarily restrained a Karnataka-based packaged drinking water manufacturer from using “Bislie”, finding the mark prima facie deceptively similar to Bisleri International's registered “Bisleri” trademark.

Justice Madhav J. Jamdar was hearing an interim application filed by Bisleri International Private Limited against Belaguli Mahalingegowda Kirankumar, proprietor of Kalabyraveshwara Mineral Water Industry.

The company sought an injunction against the manufacture, distribution, sale and marketing of packaged drinking water under “Bislie”, as well as the use of similar artwork, trade dress and bottle designs.

Bisleri told the court that it regularly monitors the market for piracy of its trademarks, artwork and designs through investigators. During one such exercise in the last week of May 2026, its investigating team came across the manufacturing unit in Channarayapattana, Karnataka, where packaged drinking water bearing “Bislie” was allegedly being manufactured and marketed.

The company has several registrations for the “Bisleri” trademark under severla categories. It also holds copyright registrations for its original artistic works on Bisleri labels, including registrations from 2009 and 2025.

On June 11, 2026, the court had passed an ex-parte ad-interim order granting injunctions against the manufacturer and appointing the Court Receiver with powers to search and seize goods bearing the impugned mark, along with labels, packaging material, machinery and other related items. The order was subsequently complied with, and the raid was conducted. Subsequently, the present order was passed.

While passing that order, the court compared the rival products and observed, “Prima facie upon comparison of the rival product, it is evident that Defendant has copied the Plaintiff's mark.” It noted that the manufacturer had deleted the sixth alphabet “r” from “Bisleri” and interchanged the positions of the fifth and seventh alphabets, “e” and “i”, to arrive at “Bislie”.

The court further observed that “Bislie” had been depicted under artwork bearing a colour scheme, placement of features, get-up, layout, style, representation and trademark that was identical with and/or substantially similar to the trademark and label on Bisleri's bottle and its original artistic works.

At the August 7 hearing, none appeared for the manufacturer despite service, and an affidavit of service had been filed.

Bisleri's counsel sought confirmation of the June 11 relief and additional ad-interim relief covering the impugned trade dress and bottle design.

The court noted that the Additional Special Receiver's Report showed substance in the contentions raised in the interim application and plaint. It also recorded that, despite service, the manufacturer had not appeared or filed an affidavit in reply. The contentions in the interim application, plaint, and leave petition, therefore, remained uncontroverted.

The court allowed the interim application. The manufacturer was restrained, pending the hearing and final disposal of the suit, from manufacturing, distributing, printing, packaging, stocking, supplying, marketing, selling or offering for sale packaged drinking water under “BISLIE” or any mark or label identical or deceptively similar to “BISLERI”.

The injunction also covers the impugned artwork and trade dress, as well as the bottle design or shape mark that is almost identical with, substantially similar to, or an obvious imitation of Bisleri's bottle design.

The court also disposed of the Court Receiver's Report and the Leave Petition.