Delhi High Court: C. Hari Shankar, J., addressed a matter regarding passing off and granted interim relief.
Plaint alleged that defendant 1 was passing off its products as those of the plaintiffs by using the label which was confusingly and deceptively similar to that of the plaintiffs.
The product sold and manufactured by the plaintiff is “KESRI MARHAM” and the plaintiff claimed to have adopted the same in 1998.
Plaint asserted that the label of the plaintiffs reflected a unique trade dress with individual components being placed at specific locations.
Defendant is engaged in manufacturing and marketing of ayurvedic product including pain relief balms, dant manjan, creams etc. The said balm was sold under the name “Paharhi Garhwali Balm”.
Identical
Prima facie on a bare glance of the labels of the defendant and plaintiffs, it was indicated that there had been a conscious effort to copy the plaintiff’s labels, to the extent that the colours used by the defendant, placing of various features on the label and the photographs representing the ailments which the balm was expected to alleviate are also identically placed.
Therefore, in view of the above discussion and finding, prima facie it appeared that defendant was passing off its products as those of the plaintiffs.
High Court opined that plaintiffs made out a good prima facie case for grant of ex-parte ad interim relief.
Bench also added that in case the relief was not granted and the market was permitted to be flooded with defendant’s product, prejudice to the plaintiffs would be irreparable.
Plaintiffs are directed to comply with the provision of Order XXXIX Rule 3 CPC within the time stipulated in that regard. [B C Hasaram and Sons Ayurvedic Pharmacy v. Pahari Garhwali Ayurvedic Pharmacy, 2021 SCC OnLine Del 3057, decided on 17-05-2021]
Advocates before the Court:
For the Plaintiffs: Ms. Tusha Malhotra & Ms. Yamini Jaiswal, Advs