In an order dated 22^nd July, 2016, a single Judge of the Delhi High Court delivered his Judgement over a suit of infringement of trademark. The single Judge believed that the Court had territorial jurisdiction to entertain the suit. However, the alleged act of infringement took place in Kolkata (where the Defendant’s Office is located), while the Plaintiffs do not even have an Indian presence. A permitted user of the Plaintiff’s trademark has a presence in Delhi. In light on this, can the permitted user institute the suit? Does the Delhi Court have the authority to provide judgement on this matter? Let’s see.

History and Facts

This dispute arose when US based Exxon Mobil Corporation (“EMC”) alleged infringement of its registered trademark “Exxon” by Kolkata based “Exon Engineering Corporation” (“EEC”), and filed an action before the Delhi High Court. Exxon Mobil Corporation (Plaintiff 1), does not have an office in India. However, a wholly owned subsidiary (Plaintiff 2) of Exxon Mobil Corporation has an office in Delhi and is a permitted user of the trademark “Exxon”. Kolkata-based Exon Engineering Corporation (Defendant) is the registered proprietor of the trademark “Exon Engineering Corporation” and has an office in Kolkata. Section 134(2) of the Act empowers a plaintiff to institute a suit for trademark infringement at any place where its office is located. The plaintiffs here contended that the Delhi High Court was vested with the jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the matter as Plaintiff 2, being the permitted user of the trademark, has its presence in Delhi. On the other hand, the Defendant argued that it was carrying on business in Kolkata, so a court in Delhi would not have jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the matter. Further, the Defendant argued that in light of Section 53 of the Act, Plaintiff 2, by being a permitted user, could not institute the suit. Further, the Defendant was of the opinion that Section 134(2) could not come to the aid of Plaintiff 2, since Plaintiff 1 does not have an office in India.

The judge held that the explanation to Section 134(2) of the Act allowed this, and ruled that a “permitted user” would be empowered to institute a suit. The judge based this judgement on a case which involved an interpretation of Section 62(2) of the Copyright Act. The judge also accepted Plaintiff 2’s contention that Plaintiff 1 would be deemed to use the mark in Delhi owing to its use by its wholly owned subsidiary. The Defendant appealed before the Division Bench against this judgment, resulting in the judgment under consideration.

Division Bench Ruling

The Division Bench first looked into whether or not Plaintiff 2 could institute a suit in this case. The Division Bench held that Section 53 of the Trademarks Act clearly prohibits a permitted user from instituting a suit for infringement. The Bench pointed out the difference between a permitted user and a registered user and how, under the provisions of the Trademarks Act, a registered user and not a permitted user of a trademark can institute a suit.  Hence, the Bench ruled that Plaintiff 2 was not legally empowered to institute the suit.

Next, the Court went on to decide whether the Delhi High Court had jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the suit. For this, the Bench relied on the case of Ultra Home Construction vs. Purushottam Kumar Chaubey. The Bench assumed Plaintiff 2’s office in Delhi to be a subordinate (branch) office. Further, referring to Sections 134(2) and 62(2) of the Trademarks Act, 1999, the Bench contemplated that when the cause of action neither arises at the place of the principal office nor at the place of the subordinate office but at some other place, the Plaintiffs could institute a suit at the place of its principal office but not at the place of its subordinate office. The Bench then ruled that the Plaintiff 1's principal office is in USA and its assumed subordinate office is in New Delhi, but the cause of action has arisen in Kolkata. Unfortunately, the place where the plaintiff No.1 could sue under Section 134(2) would then be in USA which is not available to it because Section 134(2) is in respect of the suits filed in India alone. Consequently, the Delhi Court would not have territorial jurisdiction to entertain the present suit. Therefore, the Bench reversed the single judge’s decision and rejected the plaint for lack of jurisdiction.

The court order can be found here. 

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