Calcutta High Court: A Single Judge Bench comprising of Soumen Sen, J., addressed the grievance of the petitioner who has prayed for the passing of “John Doe” order against the respondents who are responsible for the infringement of petitioner’s copyright and trademark.
The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner is involved in the business of B2B e-commerce portal and since its inception in the year 1996, he had coined and adopted a unique mark known as “INDIAMART” for use in connection with the goods and services falling under various categories. He also claims that he has been using the said mark regularly and also got it registered in various forms as a wordmark, logo mark, label mark, and device mark. The petitioner has furnished all the details for the said registrations.
In regard to the copyright and trademark infringement, petitioner became aware of respondent’s having slavishly imitated the petitioner’s unique mark “INDIAMART” in one form or the other. For the said claim, petitioner’s have successfully disclosed all the copies which show that the petitioner’s mark is being infringed. One of the claims being put forward by the petitioner is that clearly the respondent’s have tried to confuse and deceive the public over the reputation of the plaintiff’s mark. Further, it has been stated by the petitioner that the respondents have infringed the copyright of the petitioner by using the proprietary information/data including such information, etc. which comes under the literary works of the petitioner.
Therefore, the petitioner has demanded the blocking of such websites which clearly are constituting to piracy and violation of the copyright and trademark use of the petitioner and on that note, he has prayed for John Doe orders of injunction.
The Hon’ble High Court, by recording the documents furnished by the petitioner and the fact that respondents have slavishly imitated the trademark of the petitioner which brings the Court to the claim of the petitioner about its goodwill and thereby allowing the relief to the petitioner as prayed for and concluding by giving direction to the petitioner to communicate this order to all the defendants. [Indiamart Intermesh Ltd. v. Ankit; 2018 SCC OnLine Cal 2379; dated 16-05-2018]
