Post by : Bianca
Haleem
A restaurant in Bengaluru has been prohibited from the use of the term “Carnatic” following a ruling from a Delhi court, which determined it was misleadingly similar to the registered trademark of Carnatic Cafe, a prominent restaurant chain in Delhi.
The contention arose after Lemonpepper Hospitality Pvt Ltd utilized the name “Carnatic” for its food establishment. The Delhi-based owner of Carnatic Cafe initiated a lawsuit for trademark infringement and passing off, asserting that the Bengaluru venue was improperly leveraging the goodwill and reputation associated with the established brand.
In a ruling dated October 29, District Judge Neelam Singh found in favor of Carnatic Cafe, stating that the plaintiff had “successfully demonstrated infringement” of its registered trademark. The court established that the defendants had engaged in misleading practices by adopting a confusingly similar name.
The judge issued a permanent injunction, prohibiting Lemonpepper Hospitality and its directors, staff, or representatives from utilizing the term “Carnatic” or any similar variations concerning restaurant or related services. Furthermore, the order restricted them from using the website domain www.carnaticrestaurant.com or any other site featuring the disputed mark.
As part of the ruling, the court granted Rs 50,000 for compensatory and deterrent damages, along with Rs 10,000 to cover legal expenses incurred by the owner of Carnatic Cafe.
This ruling highlights the increasing importance of trademark protection within India’s food and hospitality sectors, where brand identity plays a vital role in consumer trust and market visibility.
English
