Intellectual property rights (IPR) are the ideas, inventions, and creative
expressions for which there is a public willingness to bestow it with the status
of property. These are the rights given to individuals for the creations of
their minds. Ordinarily they vest the creator with an exclusive right for the
use of his/her creation for a specified period. IPR provide certain exclusive
rights to the inventors or creators of that property, to enable them to reap
commercial benefits from their creative efforts or reputation.
It is also to be
noted that the exclusive rights given are generally subject to several
limitations and exceptions, aimed at fine-tuning the balance that must be found
between the legitimate interests of right holders and of users. There are
several types of intellectual property protection like patent, copyright,
trademark, etc.[1]
A word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination of these things that identifies
a person's goods or services can be a trademark. It is how customers recognize
the person in the marketplace and distinguish him from his competitors[2]. The
Trade Marks Registry was established in India in 1940. At the present time the
Trade Mark Registry is operating with the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the rules
thereunder. It carry outs the function of a resource and information Centre and
acts as a facilitator in matters relating to trade marks in the country.
The
registration of Trademarks which are applied for and providing better protection
to the Trademarks and also to prevent fraudulent use of the mark is the main
objective of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Registration of the trademarks which are
properly qualified for registration under the Act and Rules is the main function
of the Trademark Registry. A registered trade mark can be protected in
perpetuity if the conditions that it is used and renewed on time and the owner
of the registered mark takes haste action against infringers.
An unregistered trade mark, called a common law trade mark can be kept alive and
protected for as long as it continuous to be used provided the owner of the mark
takes appropriate action against infringers by a passing off action or by
criminal proceeding[3].
The statute law of trade marks in India is governed by the Trade Marks Act 1999.
The Trade Marks Rules 2017 deals with the various proceedings require to
implement the provisions of the Act.
Meaning Of Trademark And Infringement Of Trademarks
According to Oxford dictionary trademark means a symbol, word, or words legally
registered or established by use as representing a company or product[4].
According to Merriam Webster trademark is a device (such as a word) pointing
distinctly to the origin or ownership of merchandise to which it is applied and
legally reserved to the exclusive use of the owner as maker or seller or a
distinguishing characteristic or feature firmly associated with a person or
thing[5].
A trademark is a visual symbol in the form of a word, a device, or a label
applied to articles of commerce with a view to indicate to the purchasing public
that they are the goods manufactured or otherwise dealt in by a particular
person as distinguished from similar goods manufactured or dealt in by other
persons[6].
According to the statutory definition of trademark under Section 2(1)(zb) of the
1999 Act, trademark must be a mark which includes a device, brand, heading,
label, ticket, name, signature, word, letter, numeral, shape of goods, packaging
or combination of colours or any combination thereof[7].
There are four kinds of functions a Trademark carries out in the contemporary
business conditions:
- helps customers in identifying the product and its origin,
- guarantees customers unchanged quality of the product,
- helps in the advertisement of the product,
- helps in image creation of the product.
A trademark can be stated as infringed when a person in the persuance of trade,
in relation to the same goods for which the mark is registered, uses without
authority the same mark or a deceptively similar mark. It is essential that the
mark must have been used as a trademark. It is sufficient if integral feature of
the mark has been used for considering violation of the mark. The identification
of an integral feature depends partly on court's discretion and partly on the
evidence. What is an integral feature may vary from case to case.
When a good bearing the registered mark have been known by a word then the use
of that word by any other trader also may constitute infringement. If the whole
registered mark has been used the any kind of addition of other matter will not
affect the issue. Fraudulent intention is not required to prove infringement,
but if intention is established it will be very helpful to prove infringement
particularly in doubtful cases.
In order to constitute infringement, the mark must be used in the course of
trade as a trade mark and use must be of a printed or other visual
representation of the mark. Where the mark registered consists of a descriptive
word, surname or geographical name, any bona fide use of that word or name by
others for descriptive purpose is protected and will not be an infringement.[8]
Under section 29(2) & (3) marks identical and similar goods or services, similar
marks and goods and services identical or similar, identical marks and identical
goods and services which are likely to cause confusion or likely to have an
association with the registered mark also constitute infringement of the
registered trademark.
Section 29 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999[9] provides that a registered trademark
is infringed when a person not being a registered proprietor or licensee, uses
in course of trade;
- Identity with Registered Mark and Similarity of Goods / Services
A Mark which is identical to the registered trademark and there is similarity of the goods or services covered by the trade mark in a manner causing confusion to the general public; or
- Similarity with Registered Mark and Identity of Goods / Services
A Mark which is similar to the registered trade mark and there is an identity or similarity of the goods or services covered by the trade mark in a manner causing confusion to the general public; or
- Identity with Registered Mark and Identity of Goods / Services -Presumption of Confusion
A Mark which is identical to the registered trademark and there is similarity of the goods or services covered by the trade mark. It is pertinent to note that in such cases the Courts will presume that such use will cause confusion on part of public; or
- Identity with Registered Mark having Reputation
A Mark which is identical or similar to the registered trademark having reputation in India, even if such mark is used in relation to goods or services which are not similar to those for which the trademark is registered.
- Similarity of Trade Name with Registered Trade Mark
A trade name or part of trade name and such concern is dealing in the goods or services in respect of which the trade mark is registered.
- Application of Registered Mark on Labelling or Packaging etc. with knowledge that such application is without authorisation
Applies registered trademark to material intended to be used for labeling, packaging, business paper or advertisement provided such person when he applied the mark knew or had reasons to believe that the application of the mark was not duly authorised by the Registered User or Licensee thereof.
- Use of Registered Trademark in Advertising, when such use takes unfair advantage, is detrimental or against the reputation of registered Trademark:
- An advertising using a registered trademark and such advertising;
- takes unfair advantage of and is contrary to honest practices in industrial or commercial matters; or
- is detrimental to its distinctive character; or
- is against the reputation of the trade mark.
One of the most important and beneficial provision given under Section 134 of
the Trade Marks Act, 1999 is that a suit for infringement can also be instituted
before a District Court / High Court (enjoying Ordinary Original Civil
jurisdiction), within the local limits of whose jurisdiction, at the time of the
institution of the suit, the person instituting the suit, actually and
voluntarily resides or carries on business or personally work for gain. The
person includes the registered proprietor and the registered user.
Meaning Of Passing Off
Passing off is a form of tort. The law of passing off, based on common law, has
remained substantially the same over more than a century though its formulation
has changed over the time[10].
'No man is entitled to represent his goods as being the goods of another man,
and no man is permitted to use any mark, sign or symbol, device, or other means,
whereby, without making a direct false representation himself to a purchaser who
purchases from him, he enables such purchaser to tell a lie or to make a false
representation to somebody else who is the ultimate customer'[11]. The Simple
interpretation of the judgment is, to pass off his goods or business as and for
the goods or business of another person by whatever means that result may be
achieved is an actionable wrong for any person.
The action of passing off can be done by using the trade name, trade mark or
other way of organizing of the plaintiff as to generate in potential purchasers
the belief that his goods or business were those of plaintiff. The tort lies in
misrepresentation by the defendant. The misrepresentation is aimed at the
potential buyers of the goods or services, who are invited to buy the goods
believing that the goods are of the plaintiff. This might be done through
confusing or deceitful use of the trade names, marks or other indications used
by the plaintiff in respect of such goods or services[12].
There are three basic elements of passing off which are also known as the
Classical Trinity, as described by the House of Lords in the case of
Reckitt &
Colman Ltd v Borden Inc.[13] The three elements are:
Misrepresentation
It is when the defendant tries to make the public believe that the goods and
services which he is providing are of the plaintiff.
Goodwill
It must be proved that the person or the goods and services own some kind of
reputation in the market with which the public identify themselves.
In the case of
Trego v. Hunt[14] it was observed that, "often it happens that
the goodwill is the very sap and life of the business, without which the
business would yield very little or no profits. It is the whole advantage
whatever it may be, of the reputation and connection of the firm, which may have
been made up by years of honest work or gained by the bountiful expenditure of
money".
Damage
At last, to succeed in taking action to stop the infringing party, the offended
party must prove that it has suffered an actual or reasonable loss of business
due to the alleged misrepresentation. This is generally difficult to prove and
involves the inspection of books of account of both parties on practical
grounds. This is sufficient to prove the possibility of loss. It must be proved
that the misrepresentation must have harmed the goodwill or cause loss to the
reputation.
Object Of The Trademark Law
The object of trademark law is to deal with the precise nature of the rights
which a person can acquire in respect of trademarks, the mode of acquisition of
such rights, the method of transfer of those rights to others, the precise
nature of infringement of such rights, and the remedies available in respect
thereof. This branch of commercial law has undergone changes from time to time
in tune with the changing pattern of business methods and practices. Even the
very concept of a trademark and its functions have changed[15].
The object of trademark law on infringement is to give the registered or
unregistered proprietor the exclusive right to use the trademark in relation to
the goods for which it is registered. Even if the trademark is not registered
the law bestows the right to enable the proprietor to file a suit for
infringement of this right and obtain injunction, damages and other reliefs
against the infringer.
The object of law of passing of is to protect the goodwill and reputation of a
business from encroachment by dishonest competitors.
An action for Infringement for registered trademark or tort of Passing off for
both registered as well as unregistered trademark are essentially two ways of
achieving the same objective of protection of goodwill attached with the mark by
which the interest of the owner can be protected.
Laws Dealing With Passing Off
The development of economy has caused increase in trades at a faster rate. To
make their product distinct from others for the products to be recognized by the
public the traders associate themselves with a name and that is called as the
Trade Mark. Trade Mark Act, 1999 along with the Trade Mark Rules 2002 gives
rights related to the Trade Mark. These legislatures give plenty of rights to
the registered trade mark holder. Those who have not registered trade mark can
also stop the other person to use the identical or similar trade mark by the
Doctrine of Passing Off.
To get the remedy of passing off the plaintiff has to
proof that he is the owner of the mark, and the same has gained reputation and
goodwill and misrepresentation has been done by the defendant due to which the
plaintiff has suffered huge damages. Though the person who has not registered
the trade mark get the rights but these rights are very limited. As to prove the
passing off one has to show reputation and goodwill attached to passing off. As
there is no other criteria it becomes very difficult for the plaintiff to proof
the same and even judiciary takes different approach in different case in
relation to passing off.
In the case of
Perry v Truefitt (1842)[16] the fundamental principle of passing
off, i.e. "Nobody has the right to represent his goods as the goods of somebody
else" was decided. Over time the law respecting to passing off has transformed
as and when required. The law which was previously restricted only to depicting
to a person's goods as another later, it was extended to trades and services
also. The reformed version of the law applies to many forms of unfair trades and
competitions where a person's activities harm the goodwill associated with the
activities of another.
An action for passing off arises when an unregistered trademark is being used by
a person other than the proprietor of that trademark in relation to the goods or
services of the trademark owner. Passing off in India is a tort which is
actionable under common law. It is mainly used to protect the good will of the
unregistered trademarks. It is founded on the basic principle of law that no one
should benefit from the labour of another. Section 27 of the Trade Marks
Act,1999 provides that no infringement action will lie in respect of an
unregistered trade mark but recognizes the common law rights of the trade mark
owner to take action against any person for passing off their goods/services as
the goods of another person or as services provided by another person.
The rules regarding jurisdiction provided under section 20 of Code of Civil
Procedure is also applicable for filing suit for passing off. The suit can only
be instituted[17] before a District Court, within the local limits of whose
jurisdiction;
- The Defendant is residing, working for gain or carrying on its business;
or
- Cause of action has arisen.
Need Of Passing Off
The Trademark is providing protection to registered goods and services, but the
passing off action is providing a protection to unregistered goods and services.
The remedy is same in both the cases but the Trademark is available to only the
registered goods and services whereas passing off is available to unregistered
goods and services. The case of
Durga Dutt vs. Navaratna Pharmaceutical[18]
gives more insight about the difference between Trademark and Passing off. In
the above case the Honorable Supreme Court has set the distinction between
infringement and passing off. The Court held that, action for infringement is a
statutory remedy conferred on the registered owner of a registered Trade mark
and has an exclusive right to the use of the trade mark in relation to those
goods but passing off is available to the unregistered goods and services of the
owner.
The law is providing sufficient protection to a registered Trademark. If there
is violation of unregistered Trademark it would be similarly injustice towards
the owner of it and nonregistration cannot be an excuse for such mischief. Only
because someone has not registered his property does not make it available to be
misused or used for the benefit of the violator. The right of an unregistered
Trademark is no less important than that of a registered one. No doubt to prove
the violation is very difficult in case of unregistered Trademark but at least
there is a chance a genuine owner can safeguard his product and services.
In the cases of infringement, the burden is always lies on the plaintiff. In the
case of S.M. Dyechem Ltd. v. Cadbury (India) Ltd.[19] the Court held that an
infringement action is failed where plaintiff cannot prove registration or that
its registration extends to the goods or to all the goods in question or because
the registration is invalid and yet the plaintiff may show that by imitating the
mark otherwise, the defendant has done what is calculated to pass off his goods
as those plaintiff.
Remedies Under Passing Off Action
Under Section 135(1) the reliefs, which may be granted to the plaintiff who
established his case in case of infringement and passing off are:
- An injunction restraining further use of trade mark;
- Damages or an account of profits.
However, in the case of innocent infringement or passing off, if the conditions laid down in Section 135(3)[20] are satisfied, the court will not grant relief by way of damages other than the nominal damages, or an account of profits; but
- An order for delivery-up of the infringing labels and the marks for destruction or erasure[21].
Remedies Available for Trademark Infringement:
- Section 29 and Section 30 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 lays down remedies for infringement of trademarks.
- Injunction by the court is a common civil remedy. The two kinds of injunction that can be granted are perpetual and temporary injunction.
- Damages can be claimed by the aggrieved party on the grounds that the his exclusive right of using his trademark has been interfered and because of that, his enterprise suffering losses.
- A civil remedy that is often claimed is handling of the profit accounts along with a command for delivery or removal of the products that have been infringed.
Under the Trade Marks Act,1999, several provisions are there as criminal remedy
for the infringement of trademark. Section 103 of the Act provides criminal
remedy in the shape of imprisonment for a period of six months which can be
extended till three years for infringing trademark rights by the breach of the
trademark of any person.
Section 104 of the Act mentions a fine of fifty
thousand rupees which can be increased till an extent of two lakhs in case
someone is found to violate the trademark rights. Subject to reasonable grounds
of proving the infringement a seizure of powers of the person liable for
violating the rights can be carried out as a criminal remedy for an efficient
exercise of the above provisions by the police.
There are also administrative remedies available as a remedy for the
infringement of the trademark. Under Section 9(1) or (11) of the Trade Marks
Act, 1999 by opposing a mark that is similar to the original mark, can be
carried out. If such a situation arises, interrogations are carried out by the
examiner upon the trademark registration.
Below are the three ways of carrying out administrative remedy which is often
useful in preventing trademark infringement:
- A trademark opposition is always filed by a third party, that opposes the existing trademark in the trademark journal after the completion of its registration procedure.
- By correcting the trademark which is already registered in a way eliminates confusion of trademarks.
- As the remedy is administrative in nature, it is carried out by keeping a check in the trade activity of the goods that bear an infringed trademark. Thus, import as well as export of goods that are labelled with a trademark that is fraudulent by nature is restricted.
To succeed in a passing off case, the plaintiff must show the misrepresentation
made by the defendant, which has damaged the goodwill.
In a passing-off action,
the plaintiff can claim any of the following remedies:
-
Apply for an injunction prohibiting the business from using your trademark or goodwill: An injunction to prevent further use of the trademark by the defendant till the final orders of the case is made to prevent the goodwill of the claimant from further harm during the period when matter is under sub-judice. The injunction is an effective remedy for the prevention of Infringement of both registered trademark and unregistered trademarks. Section 135 of the Trademark Act, 1999 provides the relief of injunction. An injunction can be given in various types:
-
Anton Piller Order: The court may order the plaintiff where the defendant is likely to destroy or dispose of materials which contain the trademark of the plaintiff to inspect the defendant's premises.
-
Mareva injunction: In such order, the court has the power to freeze the assets of the defendant where the property is likely to be dissolved or cancelled.
-
Interlocutory Injunction: It acts to take action against the defendant based on previous violation. It is an order by the Court to prevent the defendant from continuing use of the trademark, which is leading to infringement of the unregistered trademark. It prevents one from further infringement.
-
Perpetual injunction: Perpetual injunction is usually granted when the case is finally settled. It is an injunction that prevents the defendant completely from performing any act that violates the right of the owner of the trademark.
-
Infringing goods to be destroyed: The court can direct the return of the goods which infringes trademark right of plaintiff and also destroy all such goods.
-
Sue for damages or seek to account for loss of profits: Damages are compensation for the loss which can be recovered by the real owner of the trademark from the defendant. The monetary value of financial loss or loss for the reputation of the brand is recovered under damages. The amount of the damages and the account of loss of profits will be awarded by the court after taking into consideration the actual loss of the owner because of the passing off.
Judgments:
Cadila Healthcare Ltd v. Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd[22]:
In this case the Supreme Court has defined passing-off action as "the species of
unfair trade competition or of actionable unfair trading by which one person,
through deception, attempts to obtain an economic benefit of the reputation,
which the other has established for himself in a particular trade or business"
N.R. Dongre v. Whirlpool Corporation[23] :
In this case the Honorable Court held that Passing Off is based on a principle
that "A man may not sell his own goods under the pretense that they are the
goods of another man".
Consumer Distributing Co. v. Seiko Time Canada Ltd[24]:
The law of passing off thus not only protects the interest of the owner of the
trademark but of the consumers also against misrepresentation. In this case the
honorable Court held that "the simple wrong of selling one's goods deceitfully
as those of another is not now the core of the action. It is the protection of
the community from the consequential damage of unfair competition and unfair
trading."
Wander Ltd. v. Antox India (P) Ltd[25] :
The Supreme Court has laid down that in no uncertain terms in a passing off
action, the plaintiff's right is independent of a statutory right to trade mark
and it is against the conduct of the defendant which leads to or is intended or
calculated to lead to 'deception'. It was held by the honorable Court that
passing off is a species of unfair trade competition or of unfair actionable
unfair trading by which one person through deception attempts to obtain economic
benefit of the reputation which another has established for himself in a
particular trade or business. The passing off action is regarded as an action
against deceit.
Knoll v. Knoll international Limited[26] :
The passing off action is to correct an actionable wrong, based on the broader
common law principle that nobody has any right to represent his goods or
business as the goods or business of somebody else. The principle is that
"trading must not only be honest but must not even unintentionally be dishonest"
Sri Shadi lal Enterprises v. Kesar Enterprises Ltd. [27]:
The purpose of passing off action is to protect commercial goodwill and to
ensure the purchasers are not exploited and dishonest trading is prevented. For
that, the plaintiff must establish that his business or goods have acquired the
reputation. Where the defendants' goods are marked with the trademark of
plaintiff or made-up or described as calculated to mislead the ordinary
purchaser, it is this tendency to mislead or confuse which forms the gist of
passing off action. There is no need to establish fraud or actual deception or
actual damages in such cases.
Perry v Truefitt[28]:
It is a famous English case where the tort of passing off was first articulated.
Leathart made a hair treatment product. He had shown the mixing process to
Perry, a perfumer and hair-dresser, who decided to call the mixture "Medicated
Mexican Balm". Perry marketed the mixture under the title "Perry's Medicated
Mexican Balm". Truefitt, one of Perry's competitors, made a product that was
very similar to Perry's mixture, which he marketed under the name "Truefitt's
Medicated Mexican Balm", using bottles and labels that looked like Perry's
product. Perry filed a bill against Truefitt, arguing that the name "Medicated
Mexican Balm" was valuable to his business and that he should have exclusive
right to prevent others from using it. The Court denied Perry the right to the
name. However, Lord Longdale held that misrepresentation can be grounds for an
injunction, stating that "a man is not to sell his own goods under the pretense
that they are the goods of another man".
Colgate Palmolive Company v. Anchor Health and Beauty Care [29]:
In this case Both the plaintiffs and the defendants manufacture well known
toothpaste brands. The plaintiffs sued the defendants for passing off. The
contention of the plaintiffs was that the defendants' use of colour and pattern
of colours in their dental products was dangerously similar to the plaintiffs'.
According to the plaintiffs the proportion of colours (red and white) used by
the defendants was almost identical to that of the plaintiffs (1/3:2/3). The
reason for bringing in such an action was that the plaintiffs were established
in the Indian market since 1951, and had a tremendous goodwill in the country,
while the defendants had entered the market only in 1996.
It was held by the
court that though there cannot be any monopoly over colour, in a country with a
huge number of illiterate and semi-literate people, by marketing a new product
with a design closely resembling that of the older product, it is easy to create
confusion in the minds of the public, especially when a similar product has been
prevailing in the market for close to half a century. It was adjudged that the
defendants were using the trade dress of the plaintiffs. The court ordered an
injunction, restraining the defendants from using the red/white combination in
the disputed order.
Conclusion
Registration of the trademark has become vital with the growth in the
competition, growth in the economy. To protect one from harm in reputation and
goodwill one needs to register its name by which he sold his good, which is its
trademark. But those who even do not register their trademark, it does not mean
they cannot protect their rights, their interest, they can very well protect the
right by the concept called Passing off.
The protection of the trademark is necessary for the business point of view as
well as for the protection of customers from fraud and cheating. The passing-off
action is applicable in case of unregistered goods and services. The scope of
passing off is wide as compared to infringement of the trademark.
An action for passing off registered or unregistered products / services when
coupled with the use of a deceptively infringing trademark has the same remedy
as that of an infringement of trademark. However, under a suit for passing off
an unregistered trademark, the burden of proof to establish loss of reputation
and goodwill is more often difficult from a practical point of view. In this
regard, it may be noted that many principles relating to trademark law have
evolved and are still developing.
Passing Off is a common law tort which protects the goodwill and reputation of
trade mark holder against damage caused by misrepresentation by defendant. The
action of passing off can be done by using the trade name, trade mark or other
get up of the plaintiff as to induce in potential purchasers the belief that his
goods or business were those of plaintiff. The tort lies in misrepresentation by
the defendant. The misrepresentation is aimed at the potential buyers of the
goods or services, who are invited to buy the goods believing that the goods are
of the plaintiff.
If the authorized person finds that the defendant is using his
mark, he can file the suit in the court and the jurisdiction of the court is
where the person resides or where the person carries his business and got loss
thereof. If he is able to prove harm to reputation or goodwill or
misrepresentation, then the person can get damages of the loss occurred.
Even he
can stop the person to use the mark further by taking injunction against him. In
order to protect the right one has to prove reputation and goodwill in the
market. As no precise definition or criteria is specified in law to prove
goodwill and reputation, many people fail to prove the same and thereby is not
subject to such remedies.
This creates huge loss to the honest person. Even now
with the growth of economy and large area one cannot find out that the same mark
in respect of same goods is being used by some other person. When the person
gets to know about the same it becomes too late. So it is better to get
registered your trade mark as soon as you start using the same. It ensures your
rights and interest in better way.
In India, there is a growing need for registration of trademarks day by day,
clearly indicating the awareness developing among people to safeguard their own
products. Trademark infringement is a common sight nowadays. Although there
exist several remedies to cope up with the same, not many are implemented the
way they should be. Loopholes in every procedure being carried out to eliminate
infringement ultimately hinders the law in hand. Violation of any kind of
trademark leads to a negative impact on the individual or the entity thereby
reducing the brand value.
Along with direct infringement, there arises indirect
infringement as well. Although there are no provisions related to indirect
infringement, liabilities exist abiding by the principle of universal law.
Hence, what is required is a little bit of awareness among individuals in order
to avoid facing any kind of infringement on their own product and overcome the
same swiftly with legal help and guidance.
End-Notes:
- https://www.wipo.int/trademarks/en
- https://www.uspto.gov
- Intellectual Property Law by P. Narayanan
- https://www.oed.com
- https://www.merriam-webster.com
- Intellectual Property Law by P. Narayanan
- Trade Mark Act, 1999
- Law of Trade Marks and Passing off by P. Narayanan
- Trade Marks Act, 1999
- Intellectual Property Law by P. Narayanan
- Singer Vs Loog (1881)18 Ch D 395 at 412
- Bansal Ashwini Kr., Law of Trade Marks in India, Center of Law, Intellectual Property and Trade, 2006
- [1990] 1 All E.R. 873
- [1896] AC 7
- Intellectual Property Law by P. Narayanan
- https://www.wipo.int
- Section 20 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Kaviraj Pandit Durga Dutt Sharma v. Navaratna Pharmaceutical Laboratories, AIR 1965 SC 980
- [(2000) 5 SCC 573]
- Section 135(1) of Trade Mark Act, 1999
- Section 135 read with Section 134 of Trade Mark Act, 1999
- (2001) 5 SCC 73
- AIR 1995 Del 300
- [1984] 1 S.C.R. 583
- 1990 (Suppl.) SCC 727
- (1962) RPC 265 at 278.
- 1998 PTC (18) 309.
- (1842) 6 Beav. 66
- 2003 (27) PTC 478
References:
- Intellectual Property Law by P. Narayanan
- Law of Trade Marks and Passing off by P. Narayanan
- Trade Mark Act, 1999
- Trade Marks (Amendment) Act, 2010
- Trade Mark Rules 2002
- Trade Mark Rules 2017
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