Delhi High Court Temporarily Bars PMGIndia From Using 'PMG' Mark, Grants Relief To US Banknote Grading Company

The Delhi High Court recently restrained PMGIndia, a family-run business, and its proprietors from using the marks “PMG”, “PMGIndia”, “Paper Money Grading” or any deceptively similar mark, granting an ex parte ad-interim injunction in favour of Paper Money Guaranty LLC.

Justice Jyoti Singh observed, “I am of the view that Plaintiff has made out a prima facie case for grant of ex parte ad interim injunction against the Defendants. Balance of convenience lies in favour of the Plaintiff and it is likely to suffer irreparable harm in case the interim injunction, as prayed for, is not granted.”

The court was dealing with a suit filed by Paper Money Guaranty LLC, a Florida-incorporated company engaged in authentication, grading, and encapsulation of banknotes, against PMGIndia and its proprietors, one of whom was also a customer and collector member of Paper Money Guaranty LLC.

According to the plaint, PMGIndia and its proprietors adopted the mark “PMGIndia” and the expansion “Paper Money Grading” for services identical to those offered by Paper Money Guaranty LLC, including banknote authentication, grading and certification, and operated a website and social media accounts using the impugned marks.

Paper Money Guaranty LLC submitted that it has certified over 10 million banknotes worldwide since its incorporation in 2004 and has a significant presence in India, having graded over 54,000 Indian banknotes, including rare notes valued at around ₹91 lakh.

It further alleged that PMGIndia and its proprietors, despite receiving cease-and-desist notices, continued to use the infringing marks and, in an email dated October 1, 2025, admitted that their business shared “similar services and target markets” with Paper Money Guaranty LLC and that use of “PMGIndia” had caused confusion on social platforms.

In view of the above, the court restrained PMGIndia, its proprietors, and anyone acting on their behalf from selling, offering for sale, advertising, promoting, encapsulating, or in any manner using the marks “PMG”, “PMGIndia”, “Paper Money Grading” or any deceptively similar mark, including as a trademark, trade name or domain name.

The court also directed the domain registrars to block and suspend the website within 36 hours of receipt of the order.

Additionally, PMGIndia and its proprietors were directed to take down the Instagram account and Facebook account related to it within 48 hours.