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IP Case Law › Trade Marks › Power Control Appliances v. Sumeet Machines Pvt. Ltd.

Trade Marks Ragulika IP case note

Power Control Appliances v. Sumeet Machines Pvt. Ltd.

CourtSupreme Court of India
BenchHon'ble Justice S. Mohan and another Hon'ble Judge (Division Bench)
Case numberCivil Appeals (1994)
Citation(1994) 2 SCC 448
Judgment date8 February 1994
IP categoryTrade Marks
PartiesPower Control Appliances & Ors. (Appellants) v. Sumeet Machines Pvt. Ltd. (Respondent)

Relevant Acts and provisions

Provisions considered: Trade marks, copyright and designs (interim injunction)

Brief facts

Disputes arose between members of a family business over the SUMEET mark for mixer grinders. The High Court refused interim relief to the appellants (plaintiffs) on grounds including acquiescence.

Issues before the Court

Whether the plaintiffs were disentitled to an interim injunction on grounds of acquiescence or delay.

Court's findings

The Court considered the competing claims to the SUMEET mark, including the defence of acquiescence, and held that the refusal of an injunction, where infringement of trade mark, copyright and design had been prima facie established, could not be supported.

Decision

Civil appeals allowed; injunction in favour of the appellants pending the suits; High Court requested to try the suits expeditiously; no costs.

Key legal principle / ratio

Where infringement of a trade mark, copyright and design is prima facie established, an injunction pending the suit should ordinarily follow; defences such as acquiescence must be established on the facts.

Important paragraph references

Paras 42-44: conclusion and directions.

Important: This case note is a research summary only. It must be verified against the full judgment by a qualified lawyer, advocate or patent/trade mark attorney before any reliance. Do not rely on it as legal advice; Ragulika IP accepts no responsibility for its accuracy or for any action taken on it.

Keywords

Acquiescence Delay Interim Injunction Mixer Grinders Single Source SUMEET

Read the judgment

View judgment (court website)