Court Orders Interim Injunction Against LPT Edtech for Unauthorized Trademark Use and Misuse of Minor's Identity
In a recent landmark decision, the Delhi High Court issued an interim injunction in favor of Toprankers Edtech Solutions Private Limited, effectively restraining LPT Edtech Private Limited from publishing defamatory content, unauthorized use of trademarks, and misuse of a minor's identity for commercial purposes. The judgment was delivered by Mr. Tushar Rao Gedela, J., and addresses the escalating professional rivalry between the two educational institutions.
The plaintiffs, Toprankers Edtech Solutions, sought urgent interim relief, citing defamatory digital content and unauthorized use of their registered trademark "LegalEdge" in posts and blogs by the defendants. The court exempted the plaintiffs from pre-institution mediation under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, referencing the Supreme Court precedent in Yamini Manohar v. T.K.D. Keerthi.
The court found the defendants' actions prima facie defamatory and disparaging, aimed at tarnishing the goodwill and reputation of the plaintiffs. The defamatory campaign included manipulated digital content and AI-generated images portraying the plaintiffs in a negative light. The court emphasized that such acts are actionable under defamation and trademark laws.
Furthermore, the judgment addressed the unauthorized commercial portrayal of a minor plaintiff, who had achieved All India Rank 1 in CLAT 2026. The court clarified that while a single achievement does not constitute "personality rights," the misuse of her identity and AI-generated content was deemed unjustified and actionable.
In light of these findings, the court issued an interim injunction under Order XXXIX Rules 1 & 2 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908, directing the defendants to cease the continuation of their defamatory campaign and unauthorized trademark use. The court also ordered the removal of infringing content from online platforms, protecting the plaintiffs' trademark rights and the minor's identity.
This judgment underscores the legal framework protecting individuals and entities from defamation, unauthorized trademark use, and misuse of identity, reinforcing the importance of ethical conduct in professional rivalries.
Bottom line:-
In a case of professional rivalry between educational institutions, defamatory and disparaging digital content targeting competitors' goodwill, unauthorized use of trademarks, and misuse of a minor's identity and achievements for commercial purposes are prima facie actionable under the law.
Statutory provision(s): Commercial Courts Act, 2015 Section 12A, Trade Marks Act, 1999, Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Order XXXIX Rules 1 & 2
