Delhi High Court grants Amul victory in trademark infringement case against Italian brand Amuleti

India’s renowned dairy brand Amul has secured a significant victory in a trademark infringement lawsuit against an Italian company. The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which owns the Amul brand, initiated the lawsuit claiming that Amul is a well-known name throughout India and also holds a strong international reputation a substantial global reputation, as reported by the Times of India.

The case centered on the Italian firm Terre Primitive, which, according to GCMMF, “blatantly” copied the distinctive script, packaging style, and overall presentation used by Amul. The Italian company had simply added the suffix “eti” to the name, branding their products as “Amuleti.” GCMMF argued that this act was a clear attempt to imitate Amul’s trademark and trade dress to mislead consumers and unfairly benefit from Amul’s well-established goodwill and reputation.

The Delhi High Court took note of these arguments and granted an injunction in favor of Amul, one of the world’s top eight dairy organizations. Justice Mini Pushkarna issued the order restraining Terre Primitive from using or trading under any marks that are identical or confusingly similar to “Amul.” Furthermore, the court directed the Italian company to remove all infringing products from its website, effectively shutting down their online presence for those goods.

The court observed that the plaintiffs—GCMMF and Amul—had presented a prima facie case justifying the injunction. The Delhi High Court stressed that without granting an ex parte ad interim injunction, Amul would suffer irreparable harm due to the unauthorized use of its trademark. An Informant media report quoted the court’s words, emphasizing the importance of protecting established trademarks from infringement that could damage their reputation and market position.

In a related development, Meta Inc. has taken action by ordering the blocking or deletion of Terre Primitive’s social media accounts promoting the “Amuleti” brand. This move further restricts the Italian company’s ability to capitalize on the Amul brand’s goodwill in digital spaces.

Jayen Mehta, Managing Director of GCMMF, welcomed the court’s ruling, describing it as a significant relief for Amul. He highlighted that the verdict serves as an important precedent for safeguarding indigenous Indian brands from foreign entities attempting to infringe upon their intellectual property rights. Mehta also pointed out that GCMMF has been using the “Amul” trademark since 1958, firmly establishing it as a trusted and iconic name in dairy products across India and abroad.

Interestingly, the Italian company had launched its website only recently, in 2020, which underscores how relatively new this infringement was compared to the decades of goodwill Amul has built over time.

This case not only underscores the importance of trademark protection but also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Indian brands in defending their identity and reputation against international companies attempting to imitate or exploit their established market presence. The victory for Amul sends a strong message that Indian courts are vigilant in protecting the intellectual property rights of domestic enterprises and will act decisively to curb unfair competition and trademark violations.

Case title- Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. v. Terre Primitive