The Delhi High Court has ordered Google Enterprises Pvt Ltd and its related entities to pay INR 10 lakh to tech giant Google LLC. The penalty for misusing Google’s trademark has been announced.
According to media reports, Justice Sanjeev Narula’s verdict permanently restrained the consultancy firm from infringing Google’s trademark, observing that the firm used the “Google” mark without due authorization.
The court observed that the firm’s strategy was to mislead the public into believing it was affiliated with Google India. As a result, it engaged in “deception and trickery,” it added.
In addition to announcing the penalty, the court has directed the Department of Technology (DoT) to direct internet and telecom service providers to block access to the Google Enterprises Pvt Ltd website.
Google LLC approached the court after noticing certain brochures and news articles in 2011 regarding a collaboration between Google India and Tata Communications for a joint venture named E-Kutir Technology & Extension Management (P) Ltd.
Google LLC contended that all of the defendants were working together to further their illegal activities.
The tech company also told the court that the defendants used identical marks on their websites and even applied to the trademark registry to register those marks.
The court noted that the marks displayed on the defendants’ websites were completely identical to the plaintiff’s mark.
“The present suit is accordingly decreed in favour of the plaintiff… damages of INR 10 Lakh- are awarded in favour of plaintiff, payable jointly and severally by defendants No. 1, 2, and 3 to plaintiff,” the court ruled.
