Explained: Delhi High Court Declares Haldiram As ¡®Well-Known Mark¡¯. Here¡¯s What It Means

The Delhi High Court has handed a significant triumph to the Indian snack behemoth, declaring the brand name "Haldiram" along with its distinctive red oval logo as a 'well-known' trademark. This extends beyond Haldiram's food items to include their restaurants and dining establishments as well.

The court noted that the Haldiram brand is deeply entrenched in India's diverse culinary heritage and has expanded its influence on a global scale.

Haldiram Trademark: What Was The Case?

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The legal dispute arose when Haldiram initiated legal action against 'Haldiram Restro Private Ltd' and its owners based in Ambala City, Haryana. Allegedly, the defendants were utilizing the 'Haldiram Bhujiawala' mark to promote various products such as ghee, salt, wheat flour, packaged water, and basmati rice. Haldiram aimed to prohibit the defendants from marketing their goods under any misleadingly similar marks.

Haldiram sought legal protection for its trademark name and requested the court to acknowledge the 'Haldiram' mark and its variations, including 'Haldiram Bhujiawala', as 'well-known' under the Trade Marks Act.

Haldiram Trademark Finally Finally Gets ¡®Well-Known¡¯ Mark

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The High Court's declaration signifies that the owner has the authority to prohibit any entity from registering or utilizing identical or similar trademarks, even in connection with different goods and services.

In its ruling on April 2, the High Court of Delhi said, ¡°There is no doubt that the ¡®Haldiram¡¯s¡¯ brand, with its origins deeply rooted in India¡¯s rich culinary tradition, has not only established a presence within the national market but has also extended its influence globally, transcending geographical, cultural, and national boundaries.¡±

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The court highlighted that Haldiram's trademark and logo have been prominent in the food industry since the 1960s, attaining the esteemed status of a 'well-known mark'.

¡°Accordingly, a decree of declaration declaring the mark ¡®Haldiram¡¯, as well as the oval-shaped mark, as a ¡®well-known¡¯ mark in respect of food items as well as in respect of restaurants and eateries, is granted,¡± said the high court in its order.

Additionally, the High Court granted Haldiram Rs 50 lakh in damages along with Rs 2 lakh as costs.

What Advantages Does A 'Well-Known' Mark Offer?

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Justice Prathiba Singh said, ¡°This court is of the opinion that the concept of a ¡®well-known¡¯ mark is ¡®dynamic¡¯. A well-known mark has the ability to imbue products with distinctiveness and assurance of quality that extends beyond mere geographical confines. The plaintiff exports its products not just within Asia, but to a large span of other countries.¡±

Upon declaration as a 'well-known' mark, the owner gains the authority to prohibit any entity from registering or utilizing identical or similar trademarks, even concerning disparate goods and services.

About Haldiram¡¯s

Haldiram's was established in 1937 by Ganga Bishan Agarwal, affectionately referred to as Haldiram Ji within his family, as a retail outlet for sweets and namkeen in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

In the fiscal year ending March 2023, Haldiram's recorded snack sales amounting to Rs 9,215 crore ($1.1 billion), marking a notable 19% surge compared to the previous year, as per Nielsen data referenced by industry sources.

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