Many cases are heard in the Supreme Court every day. Recently, during the hearing of a case, two whiskey bottles were placed in front of CJI Chandrachud, seeing which he was surprised.
Now once again two whiskey bottles were placed in front of CJI Chandrachud. Actually, this whole matter is related to the trademarks of two liquor companies, regarding which a hearing was held again in the court.
Blenders Pride and Imperial Blue brands have accused JK Enterprises of infringing its trademarks and copying London Pride whiskey bottles, reports ‘India Today’.
During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared on behalf of Blenders Pride and said that JK Enterprises has copied many things of Blenders Pride.
At the same time, senior advocate S Muralidhar, appearing for JK Enterprises, countered saying that the kind of bottle being mentioned is available across the country, to which senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for Pernod Ricard, argued that there is no violation of the same. Pointed to two forms.
After this, the Supreme Court directed the Madhya Pradesh-based company, which manufactures and sells whiskey under the London Pride trademark, to inform whether it is ready to change the design and color of its product.
The court has given this direction to JK Enterprises, the manufacturer of London Pride, as the product is similar to ‘Blender’s Pride’ and ‘Imperial Blue’ whiskey of liquor producer Pernad Ricard India Private Limited.
A bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud asked senior advocate S Muralidhar, appearing for London Pride, to inform the company’s response to the direction by the next hearing.
The bench said, “Why have you (London Pride) adopted the same style, color and other things of the product? Get instructions on whether you would like to change the style and color.” The top court said it will hear arguments on the issue of trademark dispute over the names in the next hearing.
In this appeal, the company has challenged the decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in November 2023, in which the demand to ban the sale of the product by accusing JK Enterprises of copying the product was rejected.
Pernad Ricard says the Madhya Pradesh-based company is blatantly copying its trademark and producing and selling its own whiskey brand under the name ‘London Pride’.