The Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is the registered proprietor of the mark ‘KHADI’, several Khadi-formative marks and logos (Hindi and English) along with the ‘Charkha Logos’ in several trademark classes in India as well as other jurisdictions such as the UK, China, Australia, USA, New Zealand, Bhutan, Mexico, etc.
Source – Judgement
*We do not claim any copyright in the above image. The same has been reproduced for academic and representational purposes only.
Recently, the KVIC filed a suit in the Delhi High Court seeking permanent injunction against one Raman Gupta restraining infringement of trademark, passing off, rendition of accounts, damages, delivery up, etc.
KVIC claimed that, Raman Gupta and his associates had used the trading style ‘KHADI BY HERITAGE’, the corporate name ‘KHADI BY HERITAGE’, the mark ‘KHADI BY HERITAGE’, the ‘Charkha Logo’ in various forms. It was further claimed that, Gupta operated a website by the name ‘https: //khadi-by-heritage.business.site/’ claiming to be manufacturers of Organic, Natural & Eco-Friendly Cosmetic and allied Products under the name and brand of KHADI BY HERITAGE”, which was registered in December, 2020 and prominently displayed the ‘Charkha Logos’ and the mark ‘KHADI BY HERITAGE’.
Source – Judgement
*We do not claim any copyright in the above image. The same has been reproduced for academic and representational purposes only.
KVIC also submitted that, Raman Gupta and his associates had listed their products for sale on www.Indiamart.com (Indiamart) under the mark ‘KHADI BY HERITAGE’.
Source – Judgement
*We do not claim any copyright in the above image. The same has been reproduced for academic and representational purposes only.
On March, 2022 the Court had granted an ex parte ad interim injunction in favour of the KVIC and restrained Raman Gupta and his associates from selling the products as well as infringing the mark and using the tradename ‘KHADI BY HERITAGE’. Despite the summons issued, there was no appearance made on behalf of Raman Gupta and his associates.
The Court acknowledged KVIC being the exclusive owner and user of the mark ‘KHADI’ as well as its extensive usage since 1956. The Court considered the overall facts and circumstances and observed that, Raman Gupta and his associates had completely misused and violated KVIC’s statutory rights. The Court further observed that, there existed a high possibility in causing irreparable confusion to the consumers, who may believe the Defendants’ products to be genuine and/or evoke a connection with or affiliation to the KVIC.
Further the Court also noted that, the mark ‘KHADI’ was protected repeatedly in a number of INDRP and UDRP proceedings such as ‘Khadi Village and Industries Commission v. Roopika Rastogi & Anr. [CS (COMM) 146/2021], and ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission v. M/s. JBMR Enterprises [CS (COMM) 284/2021)] by the Delhi High Court.
Hence, the Court in July, 2022 granted a permanent injunction and restrained the Defendants from infringing the marks namely, ‘KHADI BY HERITAGE’, KBH logo, as also, any other marks/logos identical or deceptively similar to the mark ‘KHADI’ and the ‘Charkha logo’ in respect of any goods and services, without a license or consent from the KVIC.
Further, the Court ordered for transfer of the impugned domain names to KVIC, rejection of the impugned trademarks filed by Defendants as well as awarded damages to the tune of Rs.10 lakhs and costs of Rs.2 lakhs to the KVIC.
