SKF's Trademark Protected as Court Orders Defendants to Cease Use of Deceptively Similar Marks and Freeze Bank Accounts
In a significant legal victory for AB SKF, the Delhi High Court has issued an ex-parte ad-interim injunction against M/s SNKB Bearings and other associated defendants, restraining them from using the "SKF" trademark or any deceptively similar mark, trade dress, or packaging. The decision, delivered by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela on May 22, 2026, reflects the court's commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and preventing consumer deception.
AB SKF, a global leader in the manufacture and sale of bearings, has been using the "SKF" trademark since 1907. The company, which operates in over 129 countries including India, argued that the defendants were using identical or deceptively similar trademarks and trade dress, leading to confusion and deception in the market. The court found this to be a clear case of trademark infringement and passing off.
The judgment noted that the defendants were engaging in large-scale operations to market counterfeit products under the SKF brand without authorization, causing potential harm to SKF's goodwill and reputation. As part of the injunction, the court ordered the freezing of certain bank accounts associated with the defendants and mandated the removal of infringing content from their websites.
The plaintiff's counsel, Mr. Saif Khan, presented evidence of the defendants' deceptive practices, including the issuance of bogus certificates of authentication to mislead customers into believing they were purchasing genuine SKF products. The court found this conduct to be a deliberate attempt to exploit SKF's established market position for unlawful financial gain.
Justice Gedela highlighted the strong prima facie case established by SKF, emphasizing the balance of convenience was in favor of the plaintiff, and the potential for irreparable harm should the injunction not be granted. The court's directives aim to prevent further damage to SKF's brand and ensure consumer protection against counterfeit products.
The court also directed Kotak Mahindra Bank to freeze the bank accounts of the defendants and ordered GoDaddy to take down the infringing domain if compliance was not met. These measures underscore the judiciary's proactive approach in addressing intellectual property violations and safeguarding brand integrity.
The case will proceed with the defendants required to respond within four weeks, and further hearings scheduled to ensure compliance and address any ongoing issues.
Bottom line:-
Trademark infringement and passing off - Defendant restrained from using the plaintiff's registered trademark "SKF" or any deceptively similar mark, trade dress, or packaging.
Statutory provision(s): Commercial Courts Act, 2015, Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Order XXXIX Rules 1 & 2, Section 151 of CPC, Copyright Act, 1957
AB SKF v. M/s SNKB Bearings, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2906571
