In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has issued an injunction in favor of Amul, India’s largest dairy brand, against the Italian company Terre Primitive, which faced accusations of cross-border trademark infringement. The Italian firm was found to be marketing cookies and chocolate-covered biscuits under the name “Amuleti,” a brand name that closely resembles Amul’s, as reported by The Times of India.
The legal action was initiated by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which oversees the Amul brand, through attorney Abhishek Singh. Singh argued that Amul is a well-established household name in India with an expanding international presence, currently ranked as one of the top eight dairy companies globally. He pointed out that Terre Primitive’s use of the suffix “eti” was a clear attempt to imitate Amul’s branding, including its script and overall design.
Justice Mini Pushkarna ruled comprehensively in favor of Amul, ordering the removal of all infringing products from Terre Primitive’s website. The court also imposed an injunction preventing the Italian company from using any marks that resemble Amul’s in the future. Furthermore, Meta Inc. was directed to take down or block any social media accounts associated with Terre Primitive that promoted these infringing products.
Jayen Mehta, managing director of GCMMF, celebrated the court’s decision as a significant victory for Amul. He highlighted that this ruling sets an important precedent for protecting Indian brands from international imitations and is vital for safeguarding the identity and reputation of homegrown businesses.
This ruling marks a crucial milestone in the ongoing fight against cross-border trademark infringement and reinforces the rights of Indian brands on the global stage.