HC restrains firms from using ‘Patanjali’

The Delhi High Court restrained four ayurveda firms and a trust from manufacturing, selling or advertising any goods or services bearing the mark or word ‘Patanjali’ — the registered trademark of yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved Limited.

Trademark

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw gave the order on a plea by Patanjali Ayurved Limited which has contended that the four firms — Karamveer Ayurveda, Dr Zee Biotech, Dhatri, and Diwai Gramodyog Sewa Sansthan — were manufacturing and marketing products similar to its own by infringing its trademark.

Patanjali also contended before the court that the firms were passing off their products as that of the company and they were claiming to do so under authorisation of the trust, Maharishi Patanjali Vedic Foundation.

“Baba Ramdev has no connection with the defendant No.1 (Maharishi Patanjali Vedic Foundation),” the plea claimed.

The court noted that Patanjali Ayurved Limited has made out a case for grant of an order in its favour restraining the four firms and the trust from infringing its trademark.

“The defendants No. 1 to 5, till further orders, are restrained from manufacturing, authorising, selling directly or indirectly, offering for sale, advertising directly or indirectly any goods or services bearing the mark or word ‘PATANJALI’ either alone or as part of any other assembly of words,” the court said.