The Delhi High Court put the brake on an Indian investment and finance firm from using the word ‘Suzuki’ as part of its corporate name after Suzuki Motor Corporation challenged it as an infringement of its trademark.
The court termed as “afterthought” the explanation given by the Kolkata-based firm that it adopted the word ‘Suzuki’ based on the name of a friend.
“There is no justification on part of the defendant [Suzuki India Limited] to use trademark Suzuki as part of the corporate name in as much as Suzuki is a Japanese surname and is not associated with any Indian name, place, object or term,” said Justice J.R. Midha.
Suzuki Motor Corporation said, in December 2005, the court had restrained Suzuki India Limited from using the word ‘Suzuki’ as part of its trade or corporate name.