LiveLawBiz IPR Weekly Digest: May 25 - May 31, 2026
Riya Rathore
1 Jun 2026 9:14 AM IST
SUPREME COURT
Supreme Court Declines To Entertain Western Digital Challenge Over Refurbished Hard Drive Sales
Case Title: Western Digital Technologies, Inc & Anr. v. Hansraj Dugar
Case Number: Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 17783/2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz SC 204
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 27 May declined to interfere with the Delhi High Court ruling permitting the sale of refurbished hard disk drives bearing Western Digital's trademarks, holding that removal of the original marks before resale does not amount to trademark “use” under Section 29 of the Trade Marks Act. A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan dismissed the Special Leave Petition challenging the Delhi High Court's 9 March 2026 judgment.
HIGH COURTS
Delhi High Court
Delhi High Court Revives University Of North Texas' Patent Bid For Marijuana Detection Breathalyser
Case Title: University Of North Texas & Anr. v. Assistant Controller of Patents And Designs
Case Number: C.A.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 32/2025
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(DEL) 538
The Delhi High Court has recently set aside the Indian Patent Office's refusal of a patent application filed by the University of North Texas for a breathalyser technology intended to detect cannabinoids, including THC, from breath samples. Justice Jyoti Singh, who heard the appeal, held that the rejection order could not be sustained as it failed to properly assess the claimed invention's patentability.
Delhi High Court Restrains Google From Using Hindware Trademark As Ad Keyword, Awards ₹30 Lakh
Case Title: Hindware Ltd. v. Grohe India Pvt Ltd & Ors.
Case Number: CS(COMM) 591/2017
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 541
The Delhi High Court has recently permanently restrained Google LLC and Google India from using the registered trademark “HINDWARE” as advertising keywords, holding that Google could not avoid responsibility for enabling infringement through its keyword advertising tools. Justice Mini Pushkarna, in a judgment pronounced on May 22, also directed Google LLC and Google India to jointly pay ₹30 lakh as nominal damages to Hindware Limited.
Delhi High Court Sets Aside Patent Rejection Of Biotyx Medical, Slams Hindsight Analysis
Case Title: Biotyx Medical Shenzhen Co., Ltd v. Assistant Controller Of Patents And Design
Case Number: C.A.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 47/2024
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 542
The Delhi High Court on 19 May set aside an order of the Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs that had refused to grant a patent to Biotyx Medical Shenzhen Co. Ltd for its invention titled “Absorbable Stent.” A Bench of Justice Jyoti Singh held that the rejection relied on hindsight analysis and failed to follow settled principles of patent law, and remanded the matter to the Controller for fresh consideration within four months.
Case Title: AB SKF v. M/S SNKB Bearings & Ors.
Case Number: CS(COMM) 558/2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 544
The Delhi High Court has temporarily restrained five known entities and several unknown entities from using Swedish bearing manufacturer AB SKF's registered “SKF” trademark after finding a prima facie case that they were allegedly dealing in counterfeit bearings, while also directing Kotak Mahindra Bank to freeze three bank accounts linked to some of them. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that the entities appeared to be making “unlawful financial gains” at AB SKF's expense.
Delhi High Court Dismisses Ilaiyaraaja's Review Plea In 'En Iniya Pon Nilave' Copyright Dispute
Case Title: Ilaiyaraaja v. Saregama India Limited
Case Number: FAO(OS) (COMM) - 52/2025
The Delhi High Court has dismissed composer Ilaiyaraaja's review petition against its May 21, 2026 judgment that upheld Saregama India Ltd.'s copyright claim over the sound recording of the iconic song En Iniya Pon Nilave from the Tamil film Moodu Pani, holding that no ground for review was made out. A Division Bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla rejected the plea after hearing Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar for Ilaiyaraaja.
Delhi High Court Sets Aside Rejection Of Patent For VIB's Oral Protein Delivery Invention
Case Title: VIB VZW & Anr v. The Controller Of Patents And Designs
Case Number: C.A.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 30/2025
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 548
The Delhi High Court has set aside the Controller of Patents' refusal of a patent application filed by VIB VZW, a Belgium-based life sciences research institute for an invention relating to oral delivery of therapeutic proteins, holding that the patent authority failed to consider the applicant's submissions and passed an unreasoned order. Justice Jyoti Singh held that the failure to engage with the applicant's detailed response defeated the patent examination process itself.
Case Title: Kent RO Systems Ltd & Anr. v. Urban Company Limited
Case Number: CS(COMM) - 593/2026
Urban Company (UC), maker of the Native RO water purifier, agreed before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday to edit one of three advertisements that Kent RO Systems alleged were disparaging its products, without agreeing to take it down entirely. The matter was heard by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, with Senior Advocate Amit Sibal appearing for Urban Company and counsel for Kent RO walking the court through the three advertisements frame by frame. The Court, however, did not pass any takedown orders.
Case Title: Shree Swaminarayan Sarvopari Siddhant Digvijay Trust v. Sukhmay Karan Satsang Foundation & Ors.
Case Number: CS(COMM) - 607/2026
Meta, on Tuesday, questioned before the Delhi High Court whether personality rights can be asserted for a deceased person, during the hearing of a suit by the Shree Swaminarayan Sarvopari Siddhant Digvijay Trust against a breakaway faction allegedly using the likeness and personality of its founder, Sadguru Shri Devnandandasji Swami, popularly known as Babji. During the hearing before Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, counsel for Meta, while addressing the reliefs sought against intermediary platforms, submitted that the maintainability of such a claim may require consideration.
Delhi High Court Refuses Interim Relief To Vajiram & Ravi, Slams It For Delaying Main Trademark Suit
Case Title: M/S Vajiram and Ravi ISA Study Centre LLP v. M/S Vajirao and Reddy Institute Pvt Ltd
Case Number: FAO(OS) (COMM) 7/2024 & CM APPL. 2820/2024, CM APPL. 14739/2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 551
The Delhi High Court has refused to grant interim relief to civil services coaching institute Vajiram & Ravi in its trademark dispute with rival Vajirao & Reddy, while warning that the suit could face dismissal if the plaintiff fails to prosecute the trial. A division bench of Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the judgment on Tuesday while dismissing Vajiram & Ravi's appeal against a September 2023 single judge order refusing an interim injunction.
Case Title: Capital Foods Private Limited v. Kishan Rameshbhai Kaswala Trading As K3 Masala
Case Number: CS(COMM) 562/2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 555
The Delhi High Court has temporarily restrained Kishan Rameshbhai Kaswala, trading as K3 Masala, from dealing in products under the marks 'Schezwan Chutney' and 'Schezwan Dipping Chutney' in a trademark infringement suit filed by Capital Foods Private Limited, the maker of Ching's Secret products. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the ex-parte ad-interim injunction order on May 22 after observing that the defendant's products were deceptively similar to the plaintiff's registered trademark and that adoption of the mark was “clearly not honest or bonafide.”
Delhi High Court To Pass Orders In Personality Rights Suit Filed By Actor Naga Chaitanya
Case Title: AKKINENI NAGA CHAITANYA V/S WWW.SEXVID.XXX & ORS.
Case Number: CS(COMM) - 644/2026
The Delhi High Court on Thursday indicated that it is likely to pass orders in a personality rights suit filed by Telugu actor Akkineni Naga Chaitanya. The actor has sought protection against a range of alleged online violations, including pornographic websites using his name, unauthorized merchandise, AI-generated content featuring him and his former spouse, and YouTube videos he claims infringe his personality rights.
Delhi High Court To Pass Orders In Personality Rights Suit Of Actor Varun Dhawan
Case Title: VARUN DHAWAN V/S ARTIST BOOKING COMPANY & ORS
The Delhi High Court has indicated it will issue an interim order in favor of Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan to protect his personality rights. Justice Jyoti Singh today indicated that the court would direct the removal of offending links tied to defendants allegedly involved in the unlicensed sale of merchandise, the creation of deepfake content, and the circulation of pornographic material misusing the actor's likeness.
Case Title: Avaia Ventures Private Limited & Anr. v. Wildship Enterprises Private Limited & Anr.
Case Number: CS(COMM) 478/2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 559
The Delhi High Court recently (May 5) directed Amazon to reinstate certain deactivated listings of silver-plated Kamdhenu cow idols and restrained a rival seller operating under the brand name 'Svastika' from issuing further marketplace complaints alleging copyright or other intellectual property infringement against those products. Justice Tejas Karia passed the ex-parte ad-interim order in a suit filed by Avaia Ventures Private Limited and Dev Aastha Impex against Wildship Enterprises Private Limited.
Case Title: Satish Sanpal v. Jagran Prakashan Limited & Ors.
Case Number: CS(OS) 335/2026 and I.A. 10423/2026 and I.A. 10424/2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 561
The Delhi High Court on May 6 granted interim protection to Dubai-based businessman Satish Sanpal by restraining 21 media houses, digital news portals, and journalists from publishing posts branding him a hawala operator, bookie, fraudster, "Satta King," or absconder. The court also directed them to take down specified existing posts. Sanpal, Chairman of ANAX Holding and a cast member of the Netflix reality series Dubai Bling, filed the suit against Jagran Prakashan Limited and 25 others. He alleged that since around 2014 he had been the target of a coordinated campaign portraying him as a hawala operator, bookie and absconding fugitive across multiple digital platforms.
Telangana School Agrees To Drop 'Vasant Valley' Name In Trademark Suit Filed By Delhi School
Case Title: Education Today v. Vasant Valley Concept School & Ors.
Case Number: CS(COMM) 474/2026 & I.A. 12491/2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (DEL) 562
The Delhi High Court has decreed a trademark suit filed by Education Today, which runs Vasant Valley School in New Delhi. The decree came after a Telangana-based school agreed under a settlement to change its name by June 30, 2026, remove the registered mark "Vasant Valley" from its name, and stop using the mark or any deceptively similar mark.
Bombay High Court
Case Title: Kamats Worldwide Food Services Pvt Ltd v. Musa Bhai Nadaf
Case Number: INTERIM APPLICATION (L)NO.12432 OF 2026 IN COMMERCIAL IP SUIT (L) NO.12303 OF 2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (BOM) 305
The Bombay High Court on May 13, 2026, granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction in a trademark infringement suit filed by Kamats Worldwide Food Services Private Limited. It restrained Musa Bhai Nadaf, who runs a restaurant under the mark 'Kranti Kamat', from using the mark 'Kranti Kamat', any other mark containing the word 'Kamat', or any mark identical or similar to 'KAMATS'. Justice Advait M. Sethna, sitting in vacation court, passed the order after finding that the plaintiff had established a prima facie case. The court also found that the balance of convenience tilted in its favour.
Case Title: Unilever Plc v. Ashok Kumar
Case Number: INTERIM APPLICATION (L) NO. 36579 OF 2025 IN COMMERCIAL IP SUIT (L) NO. 36456 OF 2025
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (BOM) 306
The Bombay High Court has directed the Superintendent of Police, Ambala, to take action in relation to the assault on a court-appointed receiver during a court-ordered search-and-seizure operation in Haryana that allegedly uncovered a huge quantity of goods bearing Unilever Plc's trademarks, labels, and artwork. The court has also ordered police protection for the receiver during further execution proceedings.
Madras High Court
Madras High Court Grants ITC Interim Injunction Over Alleged Infringement Of Classmate Trademark
Case Title: ITC Limited v. Shree Ramdev Notebook & Ors.
Case Number: OA Nos. 457. 458,459,460, 461. 462 and 463 OF 202 in C.S(COMM DIV) NO. 141 OF 2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC(MAD) 133
The Madras High Court has granted an interim injunction in favour of ITC Limited. The injunction restrains traders from manufacturing, selling, marketing or otherwise dealing in products bearing the mark "CLASSMAN" or any mark alleged to be identical or deceptively similar to ITC's registered trademark "CLASSMATE", pending disposal of the suit. Justice N. Senthilkumar passed the order on May 13 in seven applications filed by ITC. The applications sought reliefs relating to trademark infringement, passing off, copyright infringement and trade dress violations.
Calcutta High Court
Calcutta High Court Refuses Interim Injunction Against 'ON & ON' In ONN's Trademark Suit
Case Title: Biswanath Hosiery Mills Limited v. Anila Kedia
Case Number: FMAT-IPD/2/2026
Citation: 2026 LLBiz HC (CAL) 141
The Calcutta High Court recently dismissed an appeal by Biswanath Hosiery Mills Limited, which uses the registered 'ONN' mark for its hosiery products, seeking a trademark injunction against Anila Kedia, who was using the mark 'ON & ON'. A Division Bench of Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Md. Shabbar Rashidi upheld the Commercial Court at Rajarhat's December 23, 2025 order refusing interim injunction to the appellant.
COMMERCIAL COURTS
Saket Court Rejects Jagran Prakashan's Trademark Claim Over “JAGRAN”, Imposes ₹10 Lakh Costs
Case Title: M/s Jagran Prakashan Limited v. M/s Krishi Jagran & Anr.
Case Number: CS (COMM) 267/2019
The Saket District Court at New Delhi, on 25 May dismissed Jagran Prakashan Limited's trademark infringement and passed off suit against agricultural magazine Krishi Jagran, holding that a proprietor cannot monopolise a commonly used word through trademark registration when another party has established prior and continuous use. District Judge Arul Varma vacated the injunction order dated 29 September 2020, and imposed costs of Rs. 10 lakhs on Jagran Prakashan for dragging the defendants into “unnecessary and protracted litigation.”
Case Title: Relaxo Footwears Limited v. Praveen Yadav
Case Number: CS (COMM) No. 1041/2025
A Delhi commercial court on May 15, 2026, passed a decree of permanent injunction in favour of Relaxo Footwears Limited against a Nangloi-based footwear manufacturer after he undertook before the court that he had shut down his manufacturing unit and would not use Relaxo's trademarks, including 'Sparx', 'Flite', 'Bahamas' and 'Kids Fun', or any identical, confusingly similar or deceptively similar trademarks in future.
Delhi Court Dismisses Louis Vuitton Trademark Infringement Suit Against Karol Bagh Traders
Case Title: Louis Vuitton Malletier v. Majeet Singh & Anr.
Case Number: TM No. 115/17
A Delhi court has recently dismissed a trademark infringement suit filed by French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton Malletier against two Karol Bagh traders over the alleged use of the company's trademarks on goods sold by them. District Judge Prabh Deep Kaur of the Saket District Court passed the judgment on May 8, 2026, dismissing the suit against Manjeet Singh of Dashmesh Footwear and Kapil Kumar of Gaffar Market.