In the field of luxury goods, Louis Vuitton has always grown as a luxury brand. Since its creation in 1854, the brand has always been ahead of trends and set new standards in the world of fashion. Louis Vuitton is a brand of supreme craftsmanship and innovation that began as a high-quality luggage manufacturer. Today, Louis Vuitton forms a key part of the LVMH company, which has a portfolio of more than 75 world-renowned brands. The iconic “LV” monogram, designed in 1896, represents not only fashion but luxury. The brand has three premium stores in India. A recent case is Louis Vuitton Maletier (plaintiff) v. Abdulkarik Abdulkader Chamadia & Ors. (Defendant) The Delhi High Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, marking a major victory in terms of brand protection and identity.
The dispute began in June 2023 when Louis Vuitton discovered that the defendants were selling counterfeit products, including shoes, sunglasses, wallets and other accessories bearing the “LV” trademark. . The defendants were based in Surat, Gujarat and operated a web of retail stores, storage facilities, online sales, Instagram and Telegram accounts. Additionally, it was revealed that the defendants were using a subdomain of www.selloship.com, which was controlled by one of the defendants, to conduct illegal transactions. Test purchases were also conducted to confirm transactions of counterfeit products. Therefore, Louis Vuitton initiated legal proceedings against the defendants for trademark infringement and misrepresentation in order to prevent the dilution of the brand’s reputation and goodwill.
On June 5, 2023, the court passed a unilateral preliminary injunction against the defendants, restraining them from engaging in counterfeit goods trade. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Rishika Agarwal, submitted extensive evidence including photographs, social media screenshots and test purchase records to prove that the defendant was conducting illegal transactions. Despite the subpoena, the defendant did not submit any written statement or argument on his part, leading the court to pass the ex parte order. The court analyzed the entire plaint in detail and took note of the fact that the ‘LV’ mark has been declared as a ‘well-known mark’ in several previous judgments in India.
Justice Amit Bansal, who heard arguments on behalf of the plaintiffs and analyzed the documents on record, accepted the fact that the ‘LV’ mark is truly reputed for its uniqueness and global reputation. The court relied on the case of Satya Infrastructure Ltd. vs. Satya Infra & Estates Pvt. Ltd., 2013 SCC OnLine Del 508, the facts of both the cases are very similar in nature and the defendants in both cases have failed to present their side of the case. The court held that the defendant unlawfully used the plaintiff’s mark on its products to mislead consumers and damage the plaintiff’s goodwill and reputation. The court also found the defendants guilty of deception by misleading consumers into believing they were purchasing genuine products. Justice Amit Bansal also ruled that because the defendants had failed to file written statements or contest the suit, Louis Vuitton’s claims in the plaint were allowed by default and the suit was decided pursuant to Order 8 Rule 10. It emphasized the fact that there is a possibility that Civil Procedure Code, 1908;
Ultimately, the court granted a permanent injunction in favor of the plaintiffs, prohibiting the defendants from manufacturing, selling, or distributing counterfeit products using the plaintiffs’ trademarks. The court also issued an extradition order to hand over all infringing and counterfeit products seized during the execution of the local commission. The court also ordered the blocking of the subdomains used in the fraudulent transactions and awarded the plaintiffs the actual costs of the litigation to be determined by the Joint Registrar.
The Delhi High Court’s decision in favor of Louis Vuitton sets a strong precedent for the protection of well-known trademarks in India. This case highlights the need for brands like the plaintiffs to protect their marks and artwork in the most sensitive manner. It also sends a clear message to existing counterfeiters who use technology platforms to conduct illegal business. In the future, luxury goods companies will need to invest in new tracking and surveillance technologies to ensure their rights are not violated. In the dynamic fashion sector, it is important to raise public awareness through campaigns to stop the demand for such counterfeit products.
Policymakers should also develop strict enforcement mechanisms regarding intellectual property, thereby introducing stiff penalties against defendants and other infringers. Although this ruling is a victory for Louis Vuitton, it demonstrates the collective effort needed to maintain the foundations of fair and reliable markets and to give intellectual property rights an important role in modern commerce and trade. Ta.
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