The Delhi High Court granted a dynamic injunction in favour of Reliance Industries Limited, restraining the sale of any unauthorised product bearing the RELIANCE or JIO trademarks across major e-commerce platforms. The order was passed in a suit filed by Reliance against 21 entities engaged in the unauthorised manufacture and sale of FMCG products using its well-known trademarks, as well as against popular online marketplaces including Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Meesho, MyDukaan, VyapaarTimes, and IndiaMart.
Justice Saurabh Banerjee found that the infringing entities had not only adopted deceptively similar trademarks but had also copied Reliance’s packaging, including its layout, font, and artistic elements, with the clear intent to mislead consumers. Notably, the infringing goods included edible items like poha, which are consumed by a wide and diverse group of consumers, including those from rural and semi-literate backgrounds. The Court emphasized that the nature of these goods heightened the risk of consumer confusion and potential harm, warranting greater judicial caution.
Significantly, the Court issued a dynamic injunction, allowing the plaintiff to seek delisting of infringing listings not only from identified sellers but also from future entities discovered during the course of proceedings. The online platforms were directed to take down all infringing listings upon notification by Reliance and to disclose complete seller information—including addresses, contact details, and bank account numbers to assist in enforcement.
The Court concluded that any product or listing bearing the RELIANCE or JIO trademark without authorisation is liable to be removed. This decision underscores the judiciary’s proactive stance in digital trademark enforcement and places a greater duty on online platforms to prevent misuse of well-known marks in the e-commerce ecosystem.
Appearances:Â
Plaintiff: Mr. Ankit Sahni, Ms. Kritika Sahni, Mr. Chirag Ahluwalia and Mr. Mohit Maru, Advs.
Respondent: Mr. Naman Joshi, Ms. Priya Goyal and Mr. Aakash Deep Singh, Advs. for D-22/ Indiamart.
Mr. Akshay Maloo and Mr. Rishabh Rao, Advs. for D-23.
Mr. Vivek Ayyagari, Ms. Mishthi Dubey and Mr. Abhay Aren, Advs. for D-25
