| The Delhi High Court has asked the Indian | | | | transfer of knowhow agreement with Aqua Minerals |
| conglomerate Bisleri International to halt the sale of their | | | | and a confidentiality agreement with Golden Agro, a |
| mango-flavored soft drink under the trade name | | | | sister concern of Bisleri which was engaged in |
| Maaza in India, giving Coca-Cola a victory in a | | | | manufacturing the drink. |
| trademark case. | | | | Last year, the Delhi High Court rules in favor of |
| The issue has been fought for more than a year now | | | | Coca-Cola but restrained the company and its |
| with the Delhi High Court allowing the interim injunction | | | | associates from using the trademark Maaza or any |
| in the matter, passed in 2008, to become absolute in | | | | other deceptively similar trademark in relation to |
| favor of Coca-Cola. | | | | non-alcoholic beverages, syrups and other |
| As reported in the Hindu Business Line, Bisleri | | | | preparations till a final hearing. |
| International accused Coca-Cola of infringing intellectual | | | | “The court was pleased to dismiss Bisleri’s |
| property right (IPR) agreements dating back to 1993 | | | | application for vacation of the ex-parte interim |
| and 1994. | | | | injunction against use of the Maaza trademark in India |
| The company challenged Coca-Cola’s move to | | | | including the use for purposes of export from India as |
| register the Maaza trademark outside India and sent a | | | | well as their application for rejection of the suit on the |
| legal notice to the company, its affiliates and | | | | grounds that the Delhi High Court lacked the requisite |
| franchisees to stop the production of Maaza. | | | | jurisdiction,” Anuradha Salhotra, a partner at Lall |
| Bisleri’s contention was that Maaza was sold to | | | | Lahiri & Salhotra, who represented Coca-Cola, |
| Coca-Cola for distribution and sale only within India and | | | | told Business Line. |
| that the licensee (Bisleri) was the registered proprietor | | | | The case has been keenly followed by the |
| of the trademark outside the country. The Coca-Cola | | | | international business and legal community to assess |
| Company however, claimed to be the absolute owner | | | | the impartiality of Indian courts in IPR matters. |
| of the formulations and knowhow in India through a | | | | |