Court Orders Defendants to Pay Damages for Trademark and Copyright Infringement
In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has awarded a permanent injunction in favor of Hindustan Lever Ltd. and its subsidiary against Rakesh Goyal and others for engaging in the manufacturing and sale of counterfeit fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). The judgment, delivered by Justice Tejas Karia on February 28, 2026, addresses issues of trademark and copyright infringement, passing off, and the unauthorized use of artistic works associated with the plaintiffs' products.
The court found the defendants guilty of infringing on the plaintiffs' registered trademarks and artistic works by selling counterfeit versions of popular brands such as Fair & Lovely, Sunsilk, Clinic Plus, and Lakme, among others. Despite multiple police raids and seizures of counterfeit goods at the defendants' premises, they continued their infringing activities, prompting the plaintiffs to seek judicial intervention.
In a detailed judgment, the court held that Hindustan Lever Ltd. and its subsidiary have established their ownership and extensive use of the trademarks and artistic works in question. The court recognized the plaintiffs' efforts in building a strong reputation and goodwill for their brands, which the defendants sought to exploit for easy profits through counterfeiting.
The court ordered the defendants to pay damages amounting to Rs. 2,50,000 to the plaintiffs for the losses incurred due to the infringing activities. Additionally, the judgment prescribed an interest rate of 9% per annum on the damages if the payment is not made within four weeks. The court also awarded actual costs to the plaintiffs, to be computed as per the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, and the relevant rules of the Delhi High Court.
The ruling underscores the court's commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and deterring infringing activities that harm both businesses and consumers. It sends a strong message to counterfeiters about the legal consequences of violating trademark and copyright laws.
Bottom Line:
Trademark and Copyright infringement - Permanent injunction granted against defendants for selling, manufacturing, distributing, and advertising counterfeit goods under plaintiffs' trademarks and artistic works.
Statutory provision(s): Trademark Act, 1999, Copyright Act, 1957, Commercial Courts Act, 2015, Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018, Delhi High Court Intellectual Property Rights Division Rules, 2022.
Hindustan Lever Ltd. v. Rakesh Goyal, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2860142
