Madras High Court Grants Interim Injunction Against YouTube Video Allegedly Disparaging Trademark 'NANNIR'

Court Orders Removal of Misleading Video, Protecting Trademark and Reputation of Nannir Water Source LLP

In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has granted an interim injunction in favor of Nannir Water Source LLP against Syed Imran and others, in a case concerning the protection of intellectual property rights and commercial reputation. The judgment, delivered by Justice N. Senthilkumar, mandates the removal of a YouTube video, which allegedly contained misleading and disparaging statements about the plaintiff's trademarked product, 'NANNIR'.

Nannir Water Source LLP, engaged in manufacturing and supplying water treatment systems, had filed for this legal remedy after a video published on May 25, 2025, on the YouTube channel 'Buying Facts' began to cast doubts on the efficacy of their product. The plaintiff, through their counsel Mr. Ramesh Ganapathy, argued that these statements were not only false but also malicious, causing significant harm to their business reputation and consumer trust.

The court, referencing Sections 28 and 29 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, recognized the plaintiff's registered trademark rights and underscored the need for protection from defamatory conduct. It highlighted that while the freedom of speech is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, it does not extend to making false and misleading statements that interfere with lawful business activities, as per Article 19(1)(g).

Drawing parallels from the Bombay High Court's ruling in Marico Limited v. Abhijeet Bhansali, the judgment reiterated that commercial speech must be regulated to prevent harm to business entities. The court concluded that the plaintiff had established a prima facie case, demonstrating potential irreparable harm if the injunction was not granted. Consequently, the court directed the removal of the impugned video from the platform and scheduled further proceedings for December 17, 2025.

Bottom Line:

Intellectual Property Rights - Interim injunction granted to protect plaintiff's trademark and commercial standing against malicious and misleading statements published in a YouTube video, which caused harm to reputation and business prospects.

Statutory provision(s): Trade Marks Act, 1999 Sections 28, 29; Constitution of India, 1950 Articles 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g); Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Order XXXIX Rule 3

Nannir Water Source LLP v. Syed Imran, (Madras) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2817200