The Delhi High Court has issued a directive to e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart to delist products that infringe on ‘Reliance’ and ‘Jio’ trademarks. This order, passed by Justice Saurabh Banerjee on July 10, restrains sellers from using these trademarks without authorisation, Bar & Bench reported. The move comes after Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) filed a suit alleging that several sellers were infringing its trademarks on online platforms.
Justice Banerjee’s dynamic injunction aims to curb the unauthorized use of Reliance’s trademarks, which RIL claims could mislead consumers into believing these products originate from the company. The court recognised that such misrepresentation could result in consumer safety risks due to confusion about the products’ origin. This ruling follows RIL’s assertion that it is active in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, dealing in fresh produce and other groceries through various channels.
The court underscored the importance of protecting brand names and logos, particularly in online marketplaces where consumers rely heavily on these identifiers. The potential for consumer confusion was cited as a significant concern. “Moreover, the products of defendant nos.1 to 21 are sold through online e-commerce platforms where consumers rely on brand name and logos to identify the origin of goods, in such circumstances, if any confusion between such products, if allowed to continue, could risk consumer safety. Therefore, in such circumstances, this Court has to adopt a more cautious and stringent approach for judging the likelihood of confusion and to exercise greater care,” the court stated.
RIL’s legal representation was handled by Advocates Ankit Sahni and Kritika Sahni, alongside their associates from Ajay Sahni & Associates. The legal proceedings have involved various defendants represented by different legal firms, all addressing the allegations of trademark infringement. This courtroom decision highlights the critical nature of maintaining brand integrity in the competitive e-commerce landscape.
