M/S. Nandhini Deluxe vs M/S. Karnataka Co-Operative Milk Producers Federation Ltd

A.K.SIKRI, J

The judgment dated 2nd December, 2014 given by the High Court of Karnataka in writ petitions filed by the appellant herein is the subject matter of

detailed debate and arguments in the present proceedings, because of the reason that the dispute in question has evoked considerable controversy.

The dispute pertains to the use of mark ‘NANDHINI’. The respondent herein, which is a Cooperative Federation of the Milk Producers of

Karnataka, adopted the aforesaid mark ‘NANDINI’ in the year 1985 and under this brand name it has been producing and selling milk and milk

products. It has got registration of this mark as well under Class 29 and Class 30. The appellant herein, on the other hand, is in the business of running

restaurants and it adopted the mark ‘NANDHINI’ for its restaurants in the year 1989 and applied for registration of the said mark in respect of

various foodstuff items sold by it in its restaurants. The respondent had opposed the registration and the objections of the respondent were dismissed

by the Deputy Registrar of the Trade Mark who passed orders dated August 13, 2007 allowing the registration of the said mark in favour of the

appellant.

We may note at this stage itself that the mark used by the appellant is objected to by the respondent on the ground that it is deceptively similar to

the mark of the respondent and is likely to deceive the public or cause confusion. According to the respondent, the appellant could not use the said

mark which now belongs to the respondent inasmuch as because of its long and sustained use by the respondent, the mark ‘NANDINI’ is held

to have acquired a distinctive character and is well-known to the public which associates ‘NANDINI’ with the respondent organization.

Therefore, according to the respondent, it has exclusive right to use the said mark and any imitation thereof by the appellant would lead the public to

believe that the foodstuffs sold by the appellant are in fact that of the respondent. When these objections were rejected by the Deputy Registrar and

registration granted to the appellant, the respondent approached the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (for short, ‘IPAB’), Chennai by filing

appeal with the prayer that the registration given by the Deputy Registrar, Trade Mark in favour of the appellant be cancelled. These appeals of the

respondent were allowed by the IPAB vide common order dated 4th October, 2011 and the writ petitions filed by the appellant there against have

been dismissed by the High Court vide impugned order dated 2nd December, 2014, thereby confirming the order of the IPAB and, in the process,

accepting the plea of the respondent therein.

Before we proceed further, it is pertinent to mention at this stage that the milk and milk products, which are sold by the respondent under the trade

mark of ‘NANDINI’, fall under Class 29 and Class 30 as per classification under Schedule IV to the Trade Marks Rules, 2002. On the other

hand, various kinds of foodstuffs sold by the appellant in its restaurants also fall under Class 29 and 30 as well as other Classes.

For the sake of clarity and comparison, we may also, at this stage itself, give the representation of competing marks of the appellant as well as

respondent, which is as under :

Before we proceed to state the arguments of the learned counsel for appellant and rebuttal thereof by the respondent, it would be necessary to

have a brief discussion in respect of the orders passed by the Deputy Registrar of Trade Marks, IPAB and the High Court.

ORDER OF THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR, TRADE MARKS:

This order discloses that the appellant herein had moved the applications for registration of trade mark ‘NANDHINI DELUXE WITH LOGO

(Kannada)’’ in respect of meat, fish, poultry and game, meat extracts, preserved, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables, jellies, jams, eggs,

milk and milk products, edible oils and fats, salad dressings, preserves and all other goods being included in Class 29. In the Opposition filed by the

respondent herein, it was, inter alia, stated that respondent was manufacturer and dealer of milk and milk products, cattle feed and other allied

products which are the source of ‘NANDINI’ products. Trade mark ‘NANDINI’ with device of the cow is being used by the

respondent extensively not only in the State of Karnataka but in other parts of country as well. This trade mark was registered in the name of the

respondent which was used right from the year 1985. Â The trade mark sought to be adopted by the appellant was confusingly and deceptively similar

to the respondent’s trade mark. It was a clever move on the part of the appellant who wanted to trade upon and benefit from the reputation and

goodwill acquired by the respondent for the last so many years and, therefore, the appellant could not claim any proprietary rights in the impugned

mark under Section 18(1) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act’). Registration was objected to under Sections

9,11,12 and 18 of the Act.

In the counter statement filed by the appellant to the aforesaid objections, it was pleaded that the appellant had honestly conceived and adopted the

trade mark ‘NANDHINI’ in Kannada with a particular artistic work, design and getup for running vegetarian and non-vegetarian Andhra style

restaurant. It had opened as many as six branches (particulars whereof were given) all over Bangalore by using trade mark ‘NANDHINI’

since 1989.The appellant had also obtained registration of copyright of ‘NANDHINI’ under Copyright Act, 1957. It was further argued that

since the artistic work, design and getup adopted by the appellant was totally different, there was no question of any deception or confusion arising in

the mind of public. Moreover, the class of purchasers/customers of both the trade marks was entirely different. The Deputy Registrar noted that the

issues involved in these proceedings were based on Sections1 9, 11 and 18 of the Act. As per Section 9, the generic words cannot be registered as

trade mark unless they have acquired distinctiveness and are associated with the persons/company using the said mark. The case set up by the

appellant was that its mark was distinctive one and was its trading style as well. It was also argued that trade mark ‘NANDHINI’ is not an

invented word and, therefore, there was no question of copying trade mark of the respondent. The word ‘NANDHINI’ represents the name of

goddess and a cow in Hindu Mythology. The trade mark ‘NANDHINI’ is used by people from all walks of life and it is also referred in puranas

and Hindu mythological stories. Large number of people worship NANDHINI as a goddess and, therefore, the respondent cannot claim monopoly

over the word ‘NANDHINI’.

S.9. Absolute grounds for refusal of registration.â€"(1) The trade marksâ€

(a) which are devoid of any distinctive character, that is to say, not capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one person from those of another

person;

(b) which consist exclusively of marks or indications which may serve in trade to designate the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, values,

geographical origin or the time of production of the goods or rendering of the service or other characteristics of the goods or service;

(c) which consist exclusively of marks or indications which have become customary in the current language or in the bona fide and established

practices of the trade, shall not be registered:

Provided that a trade mark shall not be refused registration if before the date of application for registration it has acquired a distinctive character as a

result of the use made of it or is a well-known trade mark.

(2) A mark shall not be registered as a trade mark ifâ€

(a) it is of such nature as to deceive the public or cause confusion;

(b) it contains or comprises of any matter likely to hurt the religious susceptibilities of any class or section of the citizens of India;

(c) it comprises or contains scandalous or obscene matter;

(d) its use is prohibited under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (12 of 1950).

(3) A mark shall not be registered as a trade mark if it consists exclusively ofâ€" (a) the shape of goods which results from the nature of the goods

themselves; or (b) the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result; or (c) the shape which gives substantial value to the goods.

Explanation.â€"For the purposes of this section, the nature of goods or services in relation to which the trade mark is used or proposed to be used shall

not be a ground for refusal of registration.

S. 11 Relative grounds for refusal of registration.â€"(1) Save as provided in section 12, a trade mark shall not be registered if, because ofâ€

(a) its identity with an earlier trade mark and similarity of goods or services covered by the trade mark; or

(b) its similarity to an earlier trade mark and the identity or similarity of the goods or services covered by the trade mark, there exists a likelihood of

confusion on the part of the public, which includes the likelihood of association with the earlier trade mark.

(2) A trade mark whichâ€

(a) is identical with or similar to an earlier trade mark; and

(b) is to be registered for goods or services which are not similar to those for which the earlier trade mark is registered in the name of a different

proprietor, shall not be registered, if or to the extent, the earlier trade mark is a well-known trade mark in India and the use of the later mark without

due cause would take unfair advantage of or be detrimental to the distinctive character or repute of the earlier trade mark.

(3) A trade mark shall not be registered if, or to the extent that, its use in India is liable to be prevented

(a) by virtue of any law in particular the law of passing off protecting an unregistered trade mark used in the course of trade; or

(b) by virtue of law of copyright.

(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the registration of a trade mark where the proprietor of the earlier trade mark or other earlier right consents to

the registration, and in such case the Registrar may register the mark under special circumstances under section 12. Explanation.â€"For the purposes

of this section, earlier trade mark meansâ€

(a) a registered trade mark or convention application referred to in section 154 which has a date of application earlier than that of the trade mark in

question, taking account, where appropriate, of the priorities claimed in respect of the trade marks;

(b) a trade mark which, on the date of the application for registration of the trade mark in question, or where appropriate, of the priority claimed in

respect of the application, was entitled to protection as a well-known trade mark.

A trade mark shall not be refused registration on the grounds specified in sub-sections (2) and (3), unless objection on any one or more of those

grounds is raised in opposition proceedings by the proprietor of the earlier trade mark.

(6) The Registrar shall, while determining whether a trade mark is a well-known trade mark, take into account any fact which he considers relevant

for determining a trade mark as a well-known trade mark includingâ€

(I) the knowledge or recognition of that trade mark in the relevant section of the public including knowledge in India obtained as a result of promotion

of the trade mark;

(ii) the duration, extent and geographical area of any use of that trade mark;

(iii) the duration, extent and geographical area of any promotion of the trade mark, including advertising or publicity and presentation, at fairs or

exhibition of the goods or services to which the trade mark applies;

(iv) the duration and geographical area of any registration of or any application for registration of that trade mark under this Act to the extent they

reflect the use or recognition of the trade mark;

(v) the record of successful enforcement of the rights in that trade mark; in particular, the extent to which the trade mark has been recognised as a

well-known trade mark by any court or Registrar under that record.

(7) The Registrar shall, while determining as to whether a trade mark is known or recognised in a relevant section of the public for the purposes of

sub-section (6), take into accountâ€

(I) the number of actual or potential consumers of the goods or services;

(ii) the number of persons involved in the channels of distribution of the goods or services;

(iii) the business circles dealing with the goods or services, to which that trade mark applies.

(8) Where a trade mark has been determined to be well-known in at least one relevant section of the public in India by any court or Registrar, the

Registrar shall consider that trade mark as a well-known trade mark for registration under this Act.

(9) The Registrar shall not require as a condition, for determining whether a trade mark is a well-known trade mark, any of the following, namely:â€

(i) that the trade mark has been used in India;

(ii) that the trade mark has been registered;

(iii) that the application for registration of the trade mark has been filed in India;

(iv) that the trade markâ€

(a) is well known in; or

(b) has been registered in; or

(c) in respect of which an application for registration has been filed in, any jurisdiction other than India; or

(v) that the trade mark is well-known to the public at large in India.

(10) While considering an application for registration of a trade mark and opposition filed in respect thereof, the Registrar shallâ€

(i) protect a well-known trade mark against the identical or similar trade marks;

(ii) take into consideration the bad faith involved either of the applicant or the opponent affecting the right relating to the trade mark.

(11) Where a trade mark has been registered in good faith disclosing the material informations to the Registrar or where right to a trade mark has

been acquired through use in good faith before the commencement of this Act, then, nothing in this Act shall prejudice the validity of the registration of

that trade mark or right to use that trade mark on the ground that such trade mark is identical with or similar to a well-known trade mark.

S. 18. Application for registration.â€" (1) Any person claiming to be the proprietor of a trade mark used or proposed to be used by him, who is

desirous of registering it, shall apply in writing to the Registrar in the prescribed manner for the registration of his trade mark.

(2) A single application may be made for registration of a trade mark for different classes of goods and services and fee payable therefor shall be in

respect of each such class of goods or services.

(3) Every application under sub-section (1) shall be filed in the office of the Trade Marks Registry within whose territorial limits the principal place of

business in India of the applicant or in the case of joint applicants the principal place of business in India of the applicant whose name is first

mentioned in the application as having a place of business in India, is situate: Provided that where the applicant or any of the joint applicants does not

carry on business in India, the application shall be filed in the office of the Trade Marks Registry within whose territorial limits the place mentioned in

the address for service in India as disclosed in the application, is situate.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Registrar may refuse the application or may accept it absolutely or subject to such amendments,

modifications, conditions or limitations, if any, as he may think fit.

(5) In the case of a refusal or conditional acceptance of an application, the Registrar shall record in writing the grounds for such refusal or conditional

acceptance and the materials used by him in arriving at his decision.

Taking note of the aforesaid submissions and virtually accepting the same, the Deputy Registrar noted that since the appellant is using the trade

mark continuously from 1st April, 1989 which claim of the appellant was supported by documentary proof, objection raised by the respondent under

Section 9 stood waived.

Coming to Section 11 of the Act which prohibits registration of mark and the goods in which it is sought for registration is likely to deceive or

confuse, he noted that whereas respondent’s mark is ‘NANDINI’ per se, the appellant’s mark is ‘NANDHINI DELUXE WITH

LOGO (In Kannada). Moreover, respondent is using trade mark ‘NANDINI’ in respect of dairy products, i.e., milk and milk products only. On

the other hand, the goods for which the registration was sought by the appellant were altogether different, even though both fall in the same Class, i.e.,

Class 29. Highlighting this factual difference of the nature of goods in which the appellant and respondent are trading, the Deputy Registrar was of the

view that the respondent’s objection under Section 11 was not tenable. While coming to this conclusion, he also took aid of some judgments of the

IPAB as well as different High Courts. In the process, he also rejected the contention of the respondent that the trade mark used by the appellant was

a colourable imitation of the respondent’s trade mark which was well-known mark under Section 11(2) of the Act.

Dealing with the objections on the touchstone of Section 18 of the Act, the Deputy Registrar came to a conclusion that the appellant is the

proprietor of the mark as claimed under Section 18(1) of the Act, but restricted his entitlement for registration by holding that the appellant would not

be entitled to registration in respect of milk and milk products. Relevant discussion in this behalf is reproduced below:

“The balance of convenience is in favour of the applicants. The applicants are the extensive user of the mark since the year 1989. the adoption of

the mark by the Applicants is honest and concurrent. To prove their claim, the applicants have filed documents in support of application. In these

circumstance, the applicants are having definite claim to the proprietorship of the mark applied for. Hence the Applicants are the proprietors of the

mark as claimed for under the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Act.

On carefully considered the arguments advanced by both the counsel and materials available on the record and the evidence adduced by the

concerned parties, in the interest of justice and purity of the Register since the Applicants are not using milk and milk products in class-29 whereas the

Opponents have proved that they are the famous Dairy products producers and the evidence produced by the Opponents also reveals that they are

using the mark for Milk and Milk products only. Therefore, the applicants are directed to delete the goods “Milk and Milk products†from the

specification of goods by way of filing a request on from TM-16 to delete the same and after deletion of the goods, the same should be notified in the

Trade Marks Journal.

It is significant to note that both Applicant and Opponent are carrying business in Bangalore. While the Applicant claims to be suing the trade mark

NANDHINI since 1989, the Opponents have been using the trade mark NANDINI prior to Applicant, the artistic work, design and getup are totally

different. While the Applicant has been using the traded mark NANDHINI with a lamp and written in a particular style, the Opponents are using

NANDINI with device of cow. The Opponent has not produced any evidence to show that use of trade mark NANDHINI by Applicant is causing

confusion or deception. In view of continuous user of the trade mark NANDHINI by Applicant, the Applicant has deemed to have become proprietor

of the trade mark NANDHINI.

Lastly coming to the exercise of discretion of the Registrar vested with him, the onus to prove the claim of proprietorship of the mark is always on the

Applicants. The Applicants have successfully discharged their onus that they are the proprietors of the mark NANDHINI DELUXE WITH LOGO

(Kannada) applied for registration. In order to safeguard the public interest and to protect the intellectual and industrial property rights of the

Applicants who are honest adopters and bonafide users, the applicant’s trade mark is to be protected by granting registration enabling the

applicants to use their mark legally without any hindrance, this authority has no other alternative except to allow application and to grant registration of

the impugned mark.

In view of the foregoing, it is ordered that the opposition No. MAS-194405 is dismissed and application No. 982285 in Class-29 shall proceed to

registration subject to deleting the items “Milk and Milk products†from the specification of goods by filing a request on form TM-16 and the

amended application should be notified in the Trade Marks Journal.â€​

ORDER DATED 20TH APRIL, 2010 OF THE IPAB :

The aforesaid order rejecting the opposition of the respondent to the registration of trade mark ‘NANDHINI’ as sought by the appellant and

allowing appellant’s application for registration, except for milk and milk products, was challenged by the respondent by filing set of appeals. One

such appeal being OA/4/2008/TM/CH was decided by IPAB vide its order 20th April, 2010. The IPAB referred to the judgment of this Court in

Vishnudas Trading as Vishnudas Kushandas vs. The Vazir Sultan Tobacco Ltd. and Anr. 1996 SCALE (5) 267 and quoted the following passage

therefrom:-

“In our view if a trader or manufacturer actually trades in or manufactures only one or some of the articles coming under a broad classification and

such trader or manufacturer has no bonafide intention to trade in or manufacture other goods or articles which also fall under the said broad

classification, such trader or manufacturers to get registration of separate and distinct goods which may also be grouped under the broad

classification.â€​

If registration has been given generally in respect of all the articles under the broad classification and if it is established that the trader or

manufacturer who got such registration had not intended to use any other article except the articles being used by such trader or manufacturer, the

registration of such trader is liable to be rectified by limiting the ambit of registration and confining such registration to the specific article or articles

which really concerns the trader or manufacturer enjoying the registration made in his favour.

The IPAB noted that in the instant case, the respondent is dealing with milk and milk products whereas the appellant is dealing with the other

products like meat and fish etc. from which dishes are prepared in its restaurants and served to the customers. It took note of certain principles that

when a person trades or manufactures one good under the broad classification having no bona fide intention to trade in all other goods falling under

that broad classification, he cannot be permitted to enjoy monopoly in articles falling under such classification as held in Vishnudas Trading as

Vishnudas Kushandas2 . Therefore, in the instant case, when the respondent has its limited business only in milk and milk products with no intention to

expand the business of trading in other goods falling under Class 29 and the appellant was given registration in other articles only, specifically

excluding milk and milk products, there was nothing wrong in according registration of those products in favour of the appellant under the trade mark

‘NANDHINI’. The IPAB also observed that the respondent had failed to prove that by allowing such registration in favour of the appellant,

any confusion or deception would ensue. On that reasoning, appeal of the respondent was dismissed. At the same time, the appellant was asked to file

a request on Form 16 to delete the goods ‘milk and milk products’ The appellant filed the affidavit to this effect, as directed by IPAB on 18th

July, 2011.

ORDER DATED 4TH OCTOBER, 2011 OF THE IPAB :

Notwithstanding, order dated 20th April, 2018 passed by the IPAB, insofar as other appeals of the respondent are concerned, the events took a

different turn as vide orders dated 4th October, 2011 appeals of the respondent herein were allowed by the IPAB. It accepted the case of the

respondent that ‘NANDINI’ is a wellknown trade mark and a household name in the State of Karnataka and that it is the registered trade mark

of the respondent. The goods sold are milk and milk products such as curd, butter, cheese, ghee, milk powder, flavoured milk, paneer, khoya, ice

cream and all milk based sweets. They are sold in bottles, sachets, tetra packs, polythene containers etc. The device used by the respondent is

standing cow on a grass land having rising sun in the background. The IPAB also took note of the statistics given by the respondent in respect of sales

turnover as well as advertisement and sale promotion expenditure for the last 10 years. It had obtained several registrations in respect of trade mark

NANDINI and label forms in Classes 29, 30, 31 and 32 and had also secured copyright registration as early as in the year 1984 and 1985.

In the opinion of IPAB, the appellant is running a restaurant which would come under Class 42 with which the Board was not concerned.

Therefore, the fact that respondent had not raised any objection to appellant’s mark for 18 years was of no relevance.

 It also noted that insofar as this trade mark ‘NANDINI’ used by the respondent is concerned, it has acquired distinctiveness.

It further held that since milk and milk products fall under Classes 29 and 30 and the goods registered in the name of the appellant also fall in the same

class, the average consumer would conclude that goods manufactured by the appellant belonged to the respondent and, therefore, there is likelihood of

confusion. Further, the respondent was using the trade mark prior to the appellant in the same class of goods and, therefore, registration of the

appellant’s mark could not be permitted. We would like to reproduce the following discussion as that captures the entire essence of the reasoning

given by the IPAB in support of its conclusion:

“14. So each case has to be decided on the basis of t he facts on hand. With regard to the appellant’s mark we find that one of the documents

which is the Kannada Weekly Sudha where it is stated that “I am using NANDINI. You?â€​

In Tharanga Kahhanda Weekly, ‘Nandini Ghee has a role

in every moment of life celebration†(translated from Kannada). These are pieces of evidence to show that the word Nandini itself has become

associated with the appellant’s products and therefore, though it might be a Hindu name, or even a deity’s name, it has come to be recognized

as a distinctive mark of the appellant by the appellant’s use of the same for nearly two decades. The conclusion of the Registrar that it is not likely

to confuse cannot be sustained. The word is identical. The addition of a letter H by the respondent cannot make a difference. Whether it is Nandini or

Nandhini, it is pronounced identically. And in Kannada there is no difference in the spelling of the trademark of the appellant and that of the

respondent.

We have referred to the advertisement which says ‘Iam using Nandiniâ€. It is clear that the consumer and the general public who are the

source of the goods ‘when the word Nandini is used. When that is so, we cannot permit the respondent to use the identical mark in relation to goods

which are akin to the appellants.

The addition of the Word Deluxe cannot improve the case of the respondent since the word NANDHINI is identical and it definitely will confusion

in the minds of the consumers.

The priority in use is indisputably the appellants. It has been so and consistently used that the marks have become entrenched in the minds of the

consumer. It will definitely not being in the interest of the public to allow the respondent to use the mark in connection with the goods in question. The

balance of convenience is not in favour of the respondent.â€​ Â

IMPUGNED JUDGMENT OF THE HIGH COURT:

The High Court upholding the order dated 4th October, 2011 of the IPAB and dismissing the writ petitions of the appellant herein has done nothing

except accepting the the aforesaid reasoning of the

IPAB, namely, (a) mark NANDINI as held by the respondent has acquired a distinctive character and has become well-known; (b) the use of

another mark is different only in one alphabet but with no difference in spelling or pronunciation in the local language and would very likely to cause

confusion in the minds of public if allowed to be registered for the commodities falling in the same class; (c) argument of the appellant herein that it

was running the business of restaurant since 1989 and the respondent had started using mark ‘NANDINI’ since the year 1985 only for milk and

not for other products was rejected on the ground that there is no foundation in facts for the aforesaid argument and no material was produced to

substantiate the same.

As stated in the beginning, very detailed arguments are advanced by counsel for both the parties. The precise nature of the arguments of the

parties is as follows:

Mr. Sushant Singh, learned counsel appearing for the appellant, advanced the following propositions, while laying attack to the orders of IPAB as

well as the High Court:

(i) In the first instance, he submitted that both the High Court of Karnataka as well as IPAB grossly erred in law in interpreting the provisions of

Section 11 of the Act to mean that once a trademark has acquired a distinctive character, then the registration of the trade mark is barred and is likely

to cause confusion if it is allowed to be registered in the commodities within the same class. His response was that this finding of the High Court of

Karnataka as well as of IPAB, is in principle erroneous inasmuch as there is no proposition of law which supports this interpretation to Section 11 of

the Act. Learned counsel emphasised that no proper weightage and consideration was given to the fact that goods and services of the appellant were

totally different from that of the respondent and, therefore, there was no likelihood of confusion or deception among the public. Instead, the courts

below compared only the marks. This is not in accord with Sections 9 and 11 of the Act. He also referred to the following judgments in support of his

plea:

(a) Eco Lean Research and Development A/S v. Intellectual Property Appellate Board and The Asst. Registrar of Trade Marks, Trade Mark

Registry MANU/TN/3041/2011 :

“11. As noticed above, the intimation given to the petitioner at the first instance by the Trade Mark Registry on 6.12.2007 is by stating that the

registration has been refused under Sections 9 and 11 of the Act. However, in the grounds of decision, the order proceeds only under Section 11 and

not under Sections 9 and 11 of the Act.â€​

(b) British Sugar Plc v. James Robertson & Sons Ltd. (1996) RPC 281 (CH):

“(d) Infringement pursuant to section 10(2)?

Because “Treat†is the very mark registered and is clearly used by Robertson’s I think the case falls to be considered under section 10(2)(a),

the identical mark/similar goods provision. I do not think it falls within section 10(2)(b) because I reject the argument that the sign used is to be

regarded as “Robertson’s Toffee Treatâ€. That is used too but the first two words are added matter and it does not matter in what capacity

“Treatâ€​ is used.

The questions arising under section 10(2)(a) are:

(1) Is the mark used in the course of trade?

(2) Are the goods for which it is used similar to those covered by the registration?

(3) Is there a likelihood of confusion because of that similarity?

The first of these questions causes no difficulty here. The problems arise under the second and third questions. British Sugar seek to elide the

questions of confusion and similarity. Their skeleton argument contends that there is “use in relation to a product so similar to a dessert sauce that

there exists a likelihood of confusion because the product may or will be used for identical purposes.†I do not think it is legitimate to elide the

question in this way. The sub-section does not merely ask “will there be confusion?â€: it asks “is there similarity of goods?â€, if so, “is there

a likelihood of confusion?†The point is important. For if one elides the two questions than a “strong†mark would get protection for a greater

range of goods than a “weak†mark. For instance “Kodak†for socks or bicycles might well cause confusion, yet these goods are plainly

dissimilar from films or cameras. I think the question of similarity of goods is wholly independent of the particular mark the subject of registration or

the defendant’s sign.â€​

(c) London Rubber Co. Ltd. v. Durex Products Incorporated & Anr. (1964) 2 SCR 211 :

“8. The provisions of Sections 8 and 10 of the Act are enabling provisions in the sense that it is not obligatory upon a proprietor of a mark to apply

for its registration so as to be able to use it. But when a proprietor of a mark, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the Trade Marks Act,

such as a legally protected right to use it, applies for registration of his mark he must satisfy the Registrar that it does not offend against the provisions

of Section 8 of the Act. The burden is on him to do so.

Confining ourselves to clause (a) the question which the Registrar has to decide is, whether having regard to the reputation acquired by use of a mark

or a name, the mark at the date of the application for registration if used in a normal and fair manner in connection with any of the goods covered by

the proposed registration, will not be reasonably likely to cause deception and confusion amongst a substantial number of persons (See 38 Halsbury's

Laws of England pp. 542-43). What he decides is a question of fact but having decided it in favour of the applicant, he has a discretion to register it or

not to do so (Re Hack's Application [(1940) 58 RPC 91] ). But the discretion is judicial and for exercising it against the applicant there must be some

positive objection to registration, usually arising out of an illegality inherent in the mark as applied for at the date of application for registration (Re

Arthur Fairest Ltd. Application [(1951) 68 RPC 197] ). Deception may result from the fact that there is some misrepresentation therein or because of

its resemblance to a mark, whether registered or unregistered, or to a trade name in which a person other than the applicant had rights (Eno v. Dunn

[(1890) 15 AC 252] ). Where the deception or confusion arises because of resemblance with a mark which is registered, objection to registration may

come under Section 10(1) as well (See note ‘k’ at p. 543 of 38 Halsbury's Laws of England). The provisions in the English Trade Marks Act,

1938 (1 & 2 Geo. 6 clause 22) which correspond to Sections 8 and 10(1) to 10(3) of our Act are Sections 11 and 12(1) to

12(3). Dealing with the prohibition of registration of identical and similar marks Halsbury has stated at pp. 543-44, Vol. 38, thus:

“Subject to the effect of honest concurrent use or other special circumstances, no trade mark may be registered in respect of any goods or

description of goods that (1) is identical with a trade mark belonging to a different proprietor and already registered in respect of the same goods or

description of goods; or (2) so nearly resembles such a registered trade mark as to be likely to deceive or cause confusion.â€​

Since the Trade Marks Act, 1940 is based on the English statute and the relevant provisions are of the same nature in both the laws, though the

language of Section 8(a) is slightly different from that of Section 11 of the English Act and that of Section 10(1) from that of Section 12(1) of the

English Act, we see no reason for holding that the provisions of Section 8(a) would not apply where a mark identical with or resembling that sought to

be registered is already on the register. The language of Section 8(a) is wide and though upon giving full effect to that language the provisions of

Section 10(1) would, in some respects, overlap those of Section 8(a), there can be no justification for not giving full effect to the language used by the

legislature.â€​

(ii) He also argued that even if it is assumed that Section 9(2)(a) is distinct from Section 11(1), insofar as enquiry “likelihood of confusion and

deception†is concerned, it was supposed to be undertaken by applying well settled factors and variables which are stipulated in a series of

judgments. He referred to Polaroid Corporation v. Polarad Electronics Corporation 182 F. Supp. 350 (1960), Shree Nath Heritage Liquor Pvt. Ltd. &

Ors. v. Allied Blender and Distillers Pvt. Ltd. (2015) 221 DLT 359 and Cadila Health Care Ltd. v. Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (2001) 5 SCC 73 in

this behalf.

(iii) Another submission of Mr. Sushant Singh was that the finding of the High Court that the mark is prohibited from registration in respect of entire

class or classes of goods runs contrary to the principle of law laid down in Vishnudas Trading Co. v. Vazir Sultan Tobacco Co. Ltd. (1997) 4 SCC 201

where the Court has observed that the monopoly under Trademark only extends to the goods which are falling in a particular class and not the entire

class of goods and the trade mark which is identical or similar in nature can be registered for the goods which are falling within the same class

inasmuch as giving the monopoly to the entire class of goods and services to the registered proprietor would lead to trafficking in the trade mark which

is not the object and the purpose of the Trade Mark Act.

(iv) Learned counsel went to the extent of targeting the finding that Trademark “NANDHINI†adopted by the respondent is a wellknown

inasmuch as such finding was without any supporting material. In this behalf, he attempted to show that there was no finding by the IPAB that the

mark “NANDHINI†of the respondent is a well-known mark. He argued that the concept of well-known trademark enshrined under Section

11(2) of the Act which gives wider net of protection to the trademarks in respect of different set of goods is a completely different than that of the

Section 11(1). It is submitted that for arriving at the conclusion of well-known trademark there are certain defined parameters on which the trademark

is required to be tested, as held by Delhi High Court in Nestle India Ltd. v. Mood Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. (2010) 42 PTC 514 (Del) (DB).

(v) According to the learned counsel, the matter also needed to be examined in the light of the fact that the nature of the mark “NANDHINIâ€

which is admittedly a common name and name of the diety and coupled with its level of distinctiveness on account of its user confined to milk and milk

products would not warrant invocation of Section 11(2) of the Act as the said provision is applicable in the present case. Stress was laid on the

submission that the use of the mark “NANDHINI†by the appellant is honest and with due cause since the year 1989. Respondent has never filed

any suit for injunction against the appellant and clearly acquiesced to the user of the appellant. Therefore, Section 11(2) is not applicable.

(vi) Advancing the aforesaid line of argument, his another submission was that Section 12 is an inbuilt scheme which allows the Registrar to register

same or similar trademark in respect of same or similar goods. More so, when the name “NANDHINI†is a common name of the deity and

common name of Hindu girl to which IPAB agrees. In this context, he also referred to the order passed by the Registrar wherein concurrent user of

both the appellant and the respondent was accepted and submitted that there was no reason to upset the said finding.

(vii) Mr. Sushant Singh further argued that since the respondentwas in the business of manufacture and marketing of milk and milk products only, and

had admittedly not expanded its business to any other items in Class 29 or 30, the case of the respondent at the highest could be qua milk and milk

products only. He submitted that the appellant was ready to give concession by not claiming any registration or trademarks which fell in the category

of milk and milk products. In this behalf, he submitted the list of goods which the appellant was ready to delete from its application for registration and

the goods in respect of which the appellant intended to claim registration. This was submitted in the tabulated form as under:

CLASS GOODS Â APPLIED Â IN Â THE GOODS GOODS

TRADE MARK APPLICATION PROPOSED PROPOSED

TO BETO BE

DELETED RETAINED

Class 29 TRADE MARK APP. NO. 982285 Eggs; milk and Meat, fish,

Meat, fish, poultry and game; milk productspoultry and

meat extracts; preserved, dried and all othergame; meat

and cooked fruits and goods beingextracts;

vegetables; jellies, jams, fruit included inpreserved,

sauces; eggs; milk and milk Class 29. dried and

products; edible oils and fats, cooked fruits

salad dressings, preserves and and

all other goods being included in vegetables;

Class 29. jellies, jams,

fruit sauces;

edible oils

and fats,

salad

dressings,

preserves

Class 30 TRADE MARK APP. NO. 817305 Tea, coffee,Sugar, rice,

Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, cocoa, artificialtapioca,

tapioca, sago, artificial coffee, coffee, coffeesago, flour

flour and preparations made from substitute, and

cereals, bread, pastry and biscuits, cakes, preparations

confectionery, ices, honey, pastry andmade from

treacle, yeast, baking-powder, confectionery, cereals,

salt, mustard, vinegar, sauces ices, ice and all bread, honey,

(except salad dressings), spices, other goodstreacle,

ice and all other goods being being includedyeast,

included in Class 30 in Class 30. baking-

powder, salt,

mustard,

TRADE MARK APP. NO. 982284

Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, pepper,

sago, substitute flour and masala

preparations made from cereal, paste,

bread, biscuits, cakes, pastry and vinegar,

confectionery, ices, honey, yeast, sauces

baking powder, salt, mustard, (except salad

pepper, masala paste, vinegar dressings),

(viii) The learned counsel submitted that neither the IPAB nor the High Court had answered all the questions/issues which had been raised by the

Registrar on the basis of which findings of the Registrar had been premised including under Section 12 of the Act. Moreover, argued the counsel,

IPAB did not even refer to or take into consideration the earlier order dated April 20, 2010 passed by IPAB itself wherein IPAB had dismissed the

appeal of the respondent on the same issue. Therefore, the appeal filed by the respondent before the IPAB was even barred by the Principle of Issue

Estoppel.

Mr. S.S. Naganand, learned senior counsel appearing for the respondent submitted, per contra, that IPAB had properly considered all the

contentions expressly argued in the appeal as well as in the review petition. It had recorded the factual position and upon such appreciation of facts,

the IPAB concludes not only that “the word Nandhini has acquired a distinctiveness†but also that “there is no doubt that if goods under Class

29 and 30 bearing the respondent’s (petitioner herein) trademark come out in the market, the average consumer would conclude that it belongs to

the Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers Federationâ€. The IPAB was also pleased to hold that “the work Nandhini itself has become

associated with the appellant’s (present respondent’s) products and, therefore, though it might be a Hindu name, or even a deity’s name, it

has come to be recognized as a distinctive mark of the appellant by the appellant’s use of the same for nearly two decades. The conclusion of the

Registrar that it is not likely to confuse cannot be sustained.†These findings were expressly affirmed by the High Court in the impugned judgment.

Mr. Naganand also submitted that all the essential characteristics of a well-known mark as understood under Section 11(2) read with Section 11(8) of

the Act have been found by the IPAB in the respondent’s mark “NANDHINIâ€. Under Section 11(8) of the Act, if any Court or Registrar

has found that a trade mark is well-known in at least one relevant section of the public in India, it shall be a well-known trade mark for purposes of the

Act. Based on the facts and evidence on record, IPAB has clearly recorded a finding that the respondent’s trademark is associated with the

respondent organisation and that it has acquired distinctiveness in Paras 9 and 14 of the IPAB order. These findings of fact cover the essentials to be

considered as a ‘well-known’ trademark and a household name. The High Court has affirmed the correct findings of the IPAB. He asserted

that the respondent’s trademark “NANDHINI†is a household name in the entire South India, and more so in Karnataka. “NANDHINIâ€

is to Karnataka what “Amul†is to Gujarat. Therefore, there can be no doubt as to “NANDHINI†being a well-known mark. It is important

to note that the appellant is running Restaurants only in the city of Bangalore in Karnataka and one town in Tamil Nadu. Outside the city of Bangalore,

the public are not aware of the respondent’s restaurant and “NANDHINI†all over Karnataka is related exclusively to the respondent

organisation.

Insofar as argument of the appellant that “NANDHINI†is the name of a God/Deity and, therefore, cannot be registered as Trademark, reply

of the learned senior counsel was that this argument is counterproductive and against the appellant’s own interest. He submitted that the prevailing

question in the present petition is whether or not the appellant can register a trademark bearing the name “NANDHINIâ€. If it is the

appellant’s averment that the name “NANDHINI†is the name of a Hindu deity and as a result cannot be registered, then such an argument

will not only render futile the very registration the appellant has applied for, but will also render the present petition otiose.

Without prejudice to the above, he argued that merely because the word “NANDHINI†denotes a Hindu Goddess or deity, does not mean that it

cannot be registered. He submitted that the only provision contained in the Act on the subject matter of registration of trademarks that affect religious

sentiments is contained in Section 9(2)(b) which is set out below for ready reference:

“Section 9(2) : A mark shall not be registered as a trademark if:

(b) : it contains or comprises of any matter likely to hurt the religious susceptibilities of any class or section of the citizens of India.â€​

According to the learned senior counsel, the significance of Nandhini, as a symbol of purity and the source of wholesome milk is the reason for the

adoption of that word by the respondent. In view of the same, the registration of the trademarks of the respondent in the present case, do not fall

within the ambit of the provisions of Section 9(2)(b) of the Act. There is no prohibition in law to include the name of any God as a part of a trademark.

It is settled law that if a mark has obtained a secondary distinctiveness in the minds of the consumer, then the same should be registered and

protected. He emphasised that the respondent has been able to prove that the appellant’s case was covered by Section 11(2) of the Act and,

therefore, it could not be registered. For this purpose, he referred to the judgment of Delhi High Court in Nestle India Ltd. wherein the Court laid

down following conditions which need to be satisfied for the applicability of Section 11(2):

“(a) The mark has to be identical with or similar to an earlier trademark and is to be registered for goods or services which are not similar to those

for which the earlier trademarks is registered â€" both the aforementioned conditions (forming sub-section (a) and (b) of Section 11(2)) have to be

satisfied and not just one, due to the use of the word and between them.

(b) The registered Trademark must have a reputationin India, and

(c) The use of the mark in question must be withoutdue cause, and

(d) Such use must take unfair advantage of or bedetrimental to the distinctive character or repute of the registered trademark.â€​

In this hue, another submission of the learned senior counsel for the respondent was that the appellant’s contention regarding honest and

concurrent user was untenable for the following reasons:

(a) The question of the Court/Registrar taking into considerationthe provisions of Section 12 of the Act, which provides for registration in the case of

honest and concurrent user does not arise as the very basis for the application of this Section is the “honesty of the concurrent use.†The

appellant was wellaware of the widespread use of the mark Nandhini by the respondent and has admitted that they were purchasing Nandhini milk for

their restaurant. Therefore, the appellant cannot claim to be an honest or concurrent user, as such claims would be contrary to the evidence placed on

record and their own admissions.

(b) Section 12 of the Act relates to identical or similar goods orservices. The appellant is not in the business of selling milk or milk products and the

claim made by it is with regard to the trading style for their restaurants’ name “NANDHINIâ€. Therefore, the goods or services of the

appellant are neither identical, nor similar, to those of the the respondent.

(c) At any rate, Section 11(2) being couched in negativelanguage indicates that it is mandatory nature and would override the provisions of Section 12.

(d) Section 12 has never been expressly pleaded by theappellant. In any case, this contention has not been expressly argued on behalf of the appellant

before the lower fora.

We have duly considered the aforesaid submissions of both the counsel with reference to the record of the case. Though the detailed arguments

are advanced touching upon various aspects, it is not necessary to traverse through all these arguments. We proceed on the presumption that the trade

mark ‘NANDHINI’, which is registered in the name of the appellant has acquired distinctiveness though the appellant disputes the same.

Otherwise also there is no challenge to the registration of this name in favour of the respondent. The moot question, according to us, is as to whether

the appellant is entitled to seek registration of the mark ‘NANDHINI’ in respect of the goods in which it is dealt with, as noted above.

Therefore, the fulcrum of the dispute is as to whether such a registration in favour of the appellant would infringe rights of the respondent. The entire

case of the respondent revolves around the submissions that the adaptation of this trade mark by the appellant, which is phonetically similar to that of

the respondent, is not a bona fide adaptation and this clever device is adopted to catch upon the goodwill which has been generated by the respondent

in respect of trade mark ‘NANDINI’. On that premise, the respondent alleges that the proposed trade mark ‘NANDHINI’ for which the

appellant applied for registration is similar trade mark in respect of similar goods and, therefore, it is going to cause deception and confusion in the

minds of the users that the goods in which the appellant is trading, in fact, are the goods which belong to the respondent. Precisely, it is this

controversy which needs to be addressed in the first instance.

Before we answer as to whether the approach of the IPAB and the High Court in the impugned orders is correct, as contended by the respondent

or it needs to be interdicted as submitted by the appellant, some of the relevant facts about which there is no dispute, need to be recapitulated. These

are as follows:

(A) Respondent started using trade mark in respect of its products, namely, milk and milk products in the year 1985. As against that, the appellant

adopted trade mark ‘NANDHINI’ in respect of its goods in the year 1989.

(B) Though, the respondent is a prior user, the appellant also had been using this trade mark ‘NANDHINI’ for 12-13 years before it applied for

registration of these trade marks in respect of its products.

(C) The goods of the appellant as well as respondent fall under the same Classes 29 and 30. Notwithstanding the same, the goods of the appellant are

different from that of the respondent. Whereas the respondent is producing and selling only milk and milk products the goods of the appellant are fish,

meat, poultry and game, meat extracts, preserved, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables, edible oils and fats, salad dressings, preserves etc. and it

has given up its claim qua milk and milk products. (D) Insofar as application for registration of the milk and milk products is concerned, it was not

granted by the trade mark registry. In fact, the same was specifically rejected. The appellant was directed to file the affidavit and Form 16 in this

behalf to delete the goods ‘milk and milk products’ which affidavit was filed by the appellant. Further concession is already recorded above.

(E) NANDINI/NANDHINI is a generic, it represents the name ofGoddess and a cow in Hindu Mythology. It is not an invented or coined word of the

respondent.

(F) The nature and style of the business of the appellant and the respondent are altogether different. Whereas respondent is a Cooperative Federation

of Milk Producers of Karnataka and is producing and selling milk and milk products under the mark ‘NANDINI’, the business of the appellant

is that of running restaurants and the registration of mark ‘NANDHINI’ as sought by the appellant is in respect of various foodstuffs sold by it

in its restaurants. Â

(G) Though there is a phonetic similarity insofar as the words NANDHINI/NANDINI are concerned, the trade mark with logo adopted by the two

parties are altogether different. The manner in which the appellant has written NANDHINI as its mark is totally different from the style adopted by

the respondent for its mark

‘NANDINI’. Further, the appellant has used and added the word ‘Deluxe’ and, thus, its mark is ‘NANDHINI DELUXE’. It is

followed by the words ‘the real spice of life’. There is device of lamp with the word ‘NANDHINI’. In contrast, the respondent has used

only one word, namely, NANDINI which is not prefixed or suffixed by any word. In its mark ‘Cow’ as a logo is used beneath which the word

NANDINI is written, it is encircled by egg shape circle. A bare perusal of the two marks would show that there is hardly any similarity of the

appellant’s mark with that of the respondent when these marks are seen in totality.

When we examine the matter keeping in mind the aforesaid salient features, it is difficult to sustain the conclusion of the IPAB in its order dated

4th October, 2011 as well in the impugned order of the High Court that the mark adopted by the appellant will cause any confusion in the mind of

consumers, what to talk of deception. We do not find that the the two marks are deceptively similar.

We are of further opinion that the earlier order dated 20th April, 2010 of IPAB approached the subject matter in correct perspective. The test laid

down in Polaroid Corporation vs. Polarad Electronics Corporation 287 F.2d 492 (1961) is as follows:Â

“The problem of determining how far a valid trademark shall be protected with respect to goods other than those to which its owner has applied it,

has long been vexing and does not become easier of solution with the years. Neither of our recent decisions so heavily relied upon by the parties,

Harold F. Ritchie, Inc. v. Chesebrough-Pond's, Inc., 2 Cir., 1960, 281 F.2d 755, by plaintiff, and Avon Shoe Co., Inc. v. David Crystal, Inc., 2 Cir.,

1960, 279 F.2d 607 by defendant, affords much assistance, since in the Ritchie case there was confusion as to the identical product and the defendant

in the Avon case had adopted its mark ""without knowledge of the plaintiffs' prior use,"" at page 611. Where the products are different, the prior

owner's chance of success is a function of many variables: the strength of his mark, the degree of similarity between the two marks, the proximity of

the products, the likelihood that the prior owner will bridge the gap, actual confusion, and the reciprocal of defendant's good faith in adopting its own

mark, the quality of defendant's product, and the sophistication of the buyers. Even this extensive catalogue does not exhaust the possibilities â€" the

court may have to take still other variables into account. American Law Institute, Restatement of Torts, §§ 729, 730, 731. Here plaintiff's mark is

a strong one and the similarity between the two names is great, but the evidence of actual confusion, when analyzed, is not impressive. The filter

seems to be the only case where defendant has sold, but not manufactured, a product serving a function similar to any of plaintiff's, and plaintiff's sales

of this item have been highly irregular, varying, e. g., from $2,300 in 1953 to $303,000 in 1955, and $48,000 in 1956.â€​

This Court in National Sewing Thread Co. Ltd. vs. James Chadwick and BrosA IR 1953 SC 357. accepted the following principles which are to

be applied in such cases:

“22. The principles of law applicable to such cases are well settled. The burden of proving that the trade mark which a person seeks to register is

not likely to deceive or to cause confusion is upon the applicant. It is for him to satisfy the Registrar that his trade mark does not fall within the

prohibition of Section 8 and therefore it should be registered. Moreover in deciding whether a particular trade mark is likely to deceive or cause

confusion that duty is not discharged by arriving at the result by merely comparing it with the trade mark which is already registered and whose

proprietor is offering opposition to the registration of the mark. The real question to decide in such cases is to see as to how a purchaser, who must be

looked upon as an average man of ordinary intelligence, would react to a particular trade mark, what association he would form by looking at the trade

mark, and in what respect he would connect the trade mark with the goods which he would be purchasing.â€​

Applying the aforesaid principles to the instant case, when we find that not only visual appearance of the two marks is different, they even relate

to different products. Further, the manner in which they are traded by the appellant and respondent respectively, highlighted above, it is difficult to

imagine that an average man of ordinary intelligence would associate the goods of the appellant as that of the respondent.

One other significant factor which is lost sight of by the IPAB as well as the High Court is that the appellant is operating a restaurant under the

trademark ‘NANDHINI’ and it had applied the trademark in respect of goods like coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, rapioca, sago, artificial coffee,

flour and preparations made from cereals, bread, pastry, spices, bill books, visiting cards, meat, fish, poultry and game; meat extracts; preserved, dried

and cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, fruit sauces, etc. which are used in the products/services of restaurant business. The aforesaid items do

not belong to Class 29 or 30. Likewise, stationery items used by the appellant in the aid of its restaurant services are relatable to Class 16. In these

circumstances, there was hardly any question of confusion or deception.

Having arrived at the aforesaid conclusion, the reasoning of the High Court that the goods belonging to the appellant and the respondent (though

the nature of goods is different) belong to same class and, therefore, it would be impermissible for the appellant to have the registration of the

concerned trade mark in its favour, would be meaningless. That apart, there is no such principle of law. On the contrary, this Court in Vishnudas

Trading as Vishnudas Kushandas2 has decided otherwise as can be seen from the reading of para 47 of the said judgment:-

“47. The respondent Company got registration of its brand name “Charminar†under the broad classification “manufactured tobaccoâ€. So

long such registration remains operative, the respondent Company is entitled to claim exclusive use of the said brand name in respect of articles made

of tobacco coming under the said broad classification “manufactured tobaccoâ€. Precisely for the said reason, when the appellant made application

for registration of quiwam and zarda under the same brand name “Charminarâ€, such prayer for registration was not allowed. The appellant,

therefore, made application for rectification of the registration made in favour of the respondent Company so that the said registration is limited only in

respect of the articles being manufactured and marketed by the respondent Company, namely, cigarettes. In our view, if a trader or manufacturer

actually trades in or manufactures only one or some of the articles coming under a broad classification and such trader or manufacturer has no bona

fide intention to trade in or manufacture other goods or articles which also fall under the said broad classification, such trader or manufacturer should

not be permitted to enjoy monopoly in respect of all the articles which may come under such broad classification and by that process preclude the

other traders or manufacturers from getting registration of separate and distinct goods which may also be grouped under the broad classification. If

registration has been given generally in respect of all the articles coming under the broad classification and if it is established that the trader or

manufacturer who got such registration had not intended to use any other article except the articles being used by such trader or manufacturer, the

registration of such trader is liable to be rectified by limiting the ambit of registration and confining such registration to the specific article or articles

which really concern the trader or manufacturer enjoying the registration made in his favour. In our view, if rectification in such circumstances is not

allowed, the trader or manufacturer by virtue of earlier registration will be permitted to enjoy the mischief of trafficking in trade mark. Looking to the

scheme of the registration of trade mark as envisaged in the Trade Marks Act and the Rules framed thereunder, it appears to us that registration of a

trade mark cannot be held to be absolute, perpetual and invariable under all circumstances. Section 12 of the Trade Marks Act prohibits registration of

identical or deceptively similar trade marks in respect of goods and description of goods which is identical or deceptively similar to the trade mark

already registered. For prohibiting registration under Section 12(1), goods in respect of which subsequent registration is sought for, must be (i) in

respect of goods or description of goods being same or similar and covered by earlier registration and (ii) trade mark claimed for such goods must be

same or deceptively similar to the trade mark already registered. It may be noted here that under sub-section (3) of Section 12 of the Trade Marks

Act, in an appropriate case of honest concurrent use and/or of other special circumstances, same and deceptively similar trade marks may be

permitted to another by the Registrar, subject to such conditions as may deem just and proper to the Registrar. It is also to be noted that the expression

“goods†and “description of goods†appearing in Section 12(1) of the Trade Marks Act indicate that registration may be made in respect of

one or more goods or of all goods conforming a general description. The Trade Marks Act has noted distinction between description of goods forming

a genus and separate and distinctly identifiable goods under the genus in various other sections e.g. goods of same description in Section 46, Sections

12 and 34 and class of goods in Section 18, Rules 12 and 26 read with Fourth Schedule to the Rules framed under the Act.

The “class†mentioned in the Fourth Schedule may subsume or comprise a number of goods or articles which are separately identifiable and

vendible and which are not goods of the same description as commonly understood in trade or in common parlance. Manufactured tobacco is a class

mentioned in Class 34 of Fourth Schedule of the Rules but within the said class, there are a number of distinctly identifiable goods which are marketed

separately and also used differently. In our view, it is not only permissible but it will be only just and proper to register one or more articles under a

class or genus if in reality registration only in respect of such articles is intended, by specifically mentioning the names of such articles and by

indicating the class under which such article or articles are to be comprised. It is, therefore, permissible to register only cigarette or some other

specific products made of “manufactured tobacco†as mentioned in Class 34 of Fourth Schedule of the Rules. In our view, the contention of Mr

Vaidyanathan that in view of change in the language of Section 8 of the Trade Marks Act as compared to Section 5 of the Trade Marks Act, 1940,

registration of trade mark is to be made only in respect of class or genus and not in respect of articles of different species under the genus is based on

incorrect appreciation of Section 8 of the Trade Marks Act and Fourth Schedule of the Rules.â€​

We may mention that the aforesaid principle of law while interpreting the provisions of Trade and Merchandise Act, 1958 is equally applicable as it

is unaffected by the Trade Marks Act, 1999 inasmuch as the main object underlying the said principle is that the proprietor of a trade mark cannot

enjoy monopoly over the entire class of goods and, particularly, when he is not using the said trade mark in respect of certain goods falling under the

same class. In this behalf, we may usefully refer to Section 11 of the Act which prohibits the registration of the mark in respect of the similar goods or

different goods but the provisions of this Section do not cover the same class of goods.

The aforesaid discussion leads us to hold that all the ingredients laid down in Section 11(2) of the Act, as explained by the Delhi High Court in

Nestle India Ltd., have not been satisfied. We are not persuaded to hold, on the facts of this case, that the appellant has adopted the trade mark to

take unfair advantage of the trade mark of the respondent. We also hold that use of ‘NANDHINI’ by appellant in respect of its different goods

would not be detrimental to the purported distinctive character or repute of the trade mark of the respondent. It is to be kept in mind that the appellant

had adopted the trade mark in respect of items sold in its restaurants way back in the year 1989 which was soon after the respondent had started

using the trade mark ‘NANDINI’.

There is no document or material produced by the respondent to show that by the year 1989 the respondent had acquired distinctiveness in respect of

this trade mark, i.e., within four years of the adoption thereof. It, therefore, appears to be a case of concurrent user of trade mark by the appellant.

There is some force in the argument of learned counsel for the appellant that IPAB while passing orders dated 4th October, 2011 ignored its

earlier order, of a Coordinate Bench, passed on 20th April, 2010. Appeal in which order dated 20th April, 2010 was passed was between the same

parties on identical issue. The IPAB had dismissed the said appeal of the respondent and that order had attained finality. Prima facie, this would act as

an issue of estoppel between the parties (see the Bhanu Kumar Jain vs. Archana Kumar and Anr. [(2005) 1 SCC 787]; Hope Plantations Ltd. vs.

Taluk Land Board, Peermade and Another, [(1999) 5 SCC 590)]. However, as we are holding that the impugned orders of the IPAB and High Court

are not sustainable in law and have decided these appeals on merits it is not necessary to make any further comments on the aforesaid aspect.

As a result, the orders of the IPAB and High Court are set aside. These appeals are allowed and the order of the Deputy Registrar granting

registration in favour of the appellant is hereby restored, subject to the modification that registration will not be given in respect of those milk and milk

products for which the appellant has abandoned its claim, as noted in para 18(vii) above.

In the peculiar facts of this case, we refrain ourselves from awarding any costs.