Delhi High Court Rules Ratan Tata’s Name Must Be Protected as a Trademark
The Delhi High Court has ruled that Ratan Tata, the late industrialist and former chairman of Tata Group, is a well-known figure whose name and trademark must be protected from unauthorized use. The ruling came in response to a petition filed by Tata Group and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust against a journalist for misusing Tata’s name for an event.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that Ratan Tata, the late industrialist and former chairman of Tata Group, is a well-known figure whose name and trademark must be protected from unauthorized use. The ruling came in response to a petition filed by Tata Group and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust against a journalist for misusing Tata’s name for an event.
Court Recognizes Ratan Tata’s Name as a Well-Known Mark
The court observed that Ratan Tata’s name is a widely recognized personal mark and must be safeguarded against exploitation by third parties. “It is manifest that the name of late Shri Ratan Tata is a well-known personal name/mark, which needs to be protected from any unauthorized use by any third party,” the court stated in its ruling.
The Tata Group and the trust had sought damages of over ₹2 crore, claiming that their reputation and goodwill were harmed due to the unauthorized use of the Tata name.
Journalist Barred from Using ‘Ratan Tata National Icon Award’
Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order while hearing the case against Rajat Srivastava, founder of the media outlet Delhi Today Group. Srivastava had been advertising an event using the title “Ratan Tata National Icon Award” and Tata’s trademarks without permission. The court restrained him from using these names and trademarks for his event.
Srivastava agreed to cease using Ratan Tata’s name and provided an undertaking to the court. However, Justice Pushkarna noted that his actions were intentional and in bad faith. The court ruled that his use of Tata’s name was an “egregious infringement of plaintiffs’ statutory and legal rights” and an attempt to “gain publicity from the tremendous goodwill of the plaintiffs and the late Ratan Tata.”
Protecting a Legacy
This ruling reinforces the legal protection surrounding famous personal names and trademarks in India, ensuring that individuals and organizations cannot exploit well-known public figures for personal or commercial gain.
The Tata Group has long been vigilant about protecting its brand and legacy. This case highlights the importance of safeguarding intellectual property rights, especially when it concerns renowned figures like Ratan Tata, whose contributions to Indian industry and philanthropy are widely acknowledged.
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