Would you name your product Adidas?
One textile industrialist claimed in his defence that Adi (elder sister) and Das (devotee) were combined to coin the term ‘Adidas’ to reflect his devotion towards his sister. ("Some ingenuity there" for sure).
The Delhi High Court in a trademark infringement suit filed by sportswear manufacturer Adidas recently had to deal with this unusual defence.
The order passed by Justice Sanjeev Narula in the suit held that the legal protection of trademarks is predicated not only on preventing consumer confusion, but also on protecting the owner’s investment in the mark.
The unauthorised use of an invented and distinctive mark like ‘Adidas’ not only infringes on the trademark owner’s rights, but also risks diluting the mark’s unique identity.
Some pointers for start up owners:
1. Steer clear of famous well known marks irrespective of whether they operate in your category or not.
2. Learn how to use the Trade Marks Registry website. A simple search can help you find if a mark is applied or registered in your category.
3. Conduct search on google to understand how many territories & categories the mark operates in.
#trademark #adidas #defence #ipr
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6moCongratulations team! So exciting to see this project come to life 🥳🇺🇸