IPR
Supreme Court Directs Princeton-Named Telangana Colleges To Publish Disclaimer Stating No Connection With US University
The Supreme Court has directed six Telangana colleges operating under the "Princeton" name to prominently state on their websites, prospectuses, admission material, and certificates that they have "no connection whatsoever with Princeton University, New Jersey, United States of America." The Court observed that "students may well be misled by the use of its name by others offering educational courses." A bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice K. Vinod Chandran passed the order on May 29...
Delhi High Court Orders Takedown of Pornographic Content, AI Deepfakes Using Actor Naga Chaitanya's Persona
The Delhi High Court has directed multiple pornographic websites, Google LLC, IndiaMart and a merchandise seller to take down specified content and listings using Telugu actor Akkineni Naga Chaitanya's name, image and likeness. The court passed the directions after finding a prima facie case for granting interim protection in a personality rights suit filed by the actor. The defendants concerned have been directed to comply with the order within 24 hours of receiving it. Justice Jyoti Singh...
Delhi High Court Revokes Gujarat Pesticides' ZOOOK Copyright Registration Over Flawed Search Certificate
The Delhi High Court has recently revoked a copyright registration granted to Gujarat Pesticides for an artistic work titled "ZOOOK", after finding procedural flaws in the process that led to its grant. The court noted that the registration was founded on a Trade Marks Search Certificate that was contrary to the Trade Marks Register. It also found that the registered proprietor of the ZOOOK mark was not notified despite having an interest in the subject matter. Justice Jyoti Singh, in a...
Madras High Court Says 2003 MoU Did Not Permit Additional Beardsell Companies To Use Corporate Name
The Madras High Court has upheld a permanent injunction restraining two companies incorporated as sister concerns of Beardsell Eastern Pvt Ltd from using the corporate name "Beardsell". The court held that a 2003 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) permitted the establishment of only "a new company" and did not authorise the incorporation of additional entities using the name. A Division Bench of Justice P. Velmurugan and Justice K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi dismissed an intra-court appeal filed...
Delhi High Court Restrains Surat-Based Sellers From Using 'BOMBAY MUSK' Mark On Counterfeit Perfumes
The Delhi High Court on 7 May restrained sellers from manufacturing, marketing, advertising, or selling counterfeit perfumes and personal care products under the “BOMBAY MUSK” mark and deceptively similar variants, holding that such activities were likely to deceive consumers and damage the plaintiff's goodwill. Justice Tejas Karia granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction in favour of BG Innovators LLP against Wellness Club and Krishiv Enterprise, both based in Surat, Gujarat, after finding...
LiveLawBiz IPR Monthly Digest: May, 2026
SUPREME COURTSupreme Court Declines To Entertain Western Digital Challenge Over Refurbished Hard Drive SalesCase 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 204The 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...
Delhi High Court Restrains Unauthorized Use Of Varun Dhawan's Persona, Orders Takedown Of Deepfake Content
The Delhi High Court has recently restrained multiple entities from using actor Varun Dhawan's persona for commercial gain after finding a prima facie case that they were offering unauthorized bookings for his appearances, selling merchandise bearing his name and likeness, and publishing abusive, derogatory, and AI-generated content involving him. Justice Jyoti Singh passed the order on May 29 while hearing Dhawan's suit against 18 defendants, including artist-booking platforms, e-commerce...
Delhi High Court Restrains Ex-Franchisee From Using 'Moti Mahal' Marks After Termination Of Agreement
The Delhi High Court on 14 May granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction restraining Zikra Hotels and Restaurants LLP, a former franchisee of the Moti Mahal restaurant chain from running, advertising, or marketing its restaurant under the 'Moti Mahal' marks after it terminated the franchise agreement for non-payment of fees. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela held: “The defendant, M/s Zikra Hotels and Restaurants LLP, had continued using the mark 'Moti Mahal Delux Tandoori Trail' despite its franchise...
Delhi High Court Protects 'Safex' Trademark, Bars Deceptively Similar Use By Seed Company
The Delhi High Court on 26 May granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction in favour of Safex Chemicals India Limited and restrained Safex Seed India LLP from using the mark “Safex” or any deceptively similar variant in relation to agricultural products. A Bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela held that “Safex Seed” lacked distinctiveness and remained descriptive, and therefore failed to distinguish the defendant's mark from the plaintiff's registered trademark. He held: “From a simple and plain...
Delhi High Court Restrains Breakaway Karan Satsang Group From Portraying HDH Bapji As Its Founder
The Delhi High Court has restrained a breakaway organisation formed by former members of Shree Swaminarayan Sarvopari Siddhant Digvijay Trust from using the trademark "Karan Satsang" and portraying the Trust's founder, His Divine Holiness Devnandandasji Swami (HDH Bapji), as its own founder. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the ex-parte ad-interim order on May 26 in a suit filed by the Trust against Sukhmay Karan Satsang Foundation and its office-bearers. The Trust stated that former trustees...
Delhi High Court Temporarily Restrains Use Of 'Elitecourt' Mark In Passing Off Dispute With Glossy Color
The Delhi High Court has restrained a firm operating under the mark 'Elitecourt' from manufacturing, selling, or advertising products under that brand, holding that Glossy Color and Paints Pvt. Ltd. had made out a prima facie case of passing off. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela declined to grant relief on the allegation of trademark infringement, noting that 'Elitecourt' is itself a registered trademark. The plaintiffs have already moved the High Court seeking cancellation of that registration. The...
Delhi HIgh Court Orders Scientico To Remove Alfa Therm's Photographs From Website, IndiaMart Listings
The Delhi High Court has directed Scientico to remove from its website, IndiaMart listings and other online platforms photographs that waste management systems manufacturer Alfa Therm Limited alleged had been copied from its website without authorisation. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela granted interim protection to Alfa Therm after prima facie finding that photographs displayed on Scientico's website were identical to photographs that had earlier appeared on Alfa Therm's website. "the defendant who...












