No Intention To Infringe': Lenskart Tells Delhi High Court Over 'Mistake' In Using Titan's Trademarks On Website & As Meta Tags

In a significant development in the domain of digital trademark law, the Delhi High Court has settled a legal dispute between Titan Company Limited and Lenskart Solutions Pvt. Ltd., after the latter admitted to the inadvertent use of Titan’s registered trademarks in its website’s backend code, specifically meta tags.

The case stemmed from allegations made by Titan—India’s leading watch and accessories brand—accusing Lenskart of misusing the trademarks "Titan" and "Fastrack" within the meta tags of its website. Meta tags are HTML elements that play a key role in how websites appear on search engines like Google. Titan claimed that such usage could mislead online consumers by diverting web traffic intended for Titan to Lenskart’s website, thereby amounting to trademark infringement and passing off, in violation of the Trademarks Act, 1999.

Lenskart, a prominent eyewear retailer, promptly responded to the claims by stating that the use was unintentional and not meant to violate Titan’s trademark rights. In a written statement to the court, Lenskart acknowledged the presence of the tags, clarified there was no malafide intent, and assured that the references had been immediately removed. No Intention To Infringe': Lenskart Tells Delhi High Court Over 'Mistake' In Using Titan's Trademarks On Website & As Meta Tags. The company further undertook to remove any such instances in the future upon notification by Titan.

Taking into account Lenskart’s admission and corrective action, the Division Bench of Justice Amit Bansal decided to resolve the matter through a consent decree, thus avoiding a prolonged legal battle. The court noted the proactive approach taken by both parties and emphasized the importance of amicable resolution in such cases.

“The suit is decreed in terms of the undertakings made by Lenskart. All pending applications stand disposed of. Titan is exempted from court fees,” the court said in its order.

This case brings to light the evolving challenges of digital intellectual property rights, particularly in the context of search engine optimization (SEO). Legal experts note that even invisible elements like meta tags, when used improperly, can constitute trademark infringement due to the possibility of initial interest confusion—a scenario where a consumer is momentarily misled before making a purchase decision.

The decision underscores the importance for businesses to exercise caution in digital marketing strategies, especially in the use of third-party trademarks, even in website metadata. The ruling also sets a precedent for how courts may interpret backend SEO practices in light of trademark laws.

While the legal dispute has now been settled without any monetary penalty or damages, the case has become a reference point for future litigation concerning online trademark enforcement in India.

As both brands move forward, the incident serves as a timely reminder for businesses operating online to ensure compliance with intellectual property laws, not just in their branding and marketing materials, but also in the technical infrastructure that supports their digital presence.