In Brief
This case involved an appeal challenging the dismissal of an interim injunction application in a trademark dispute. Pernod Ricard India, manufacturer of 'Blenders Pride' and 'Imperial Blue' whisky, sought to restrain competitor Karanveer Singh Chhabra from selling whisky under the mark 'London Pride', alleging infringement and passing off. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that the marks are not deceptively similar when viewed holistically. The word 'Pride' is generic and commonly used in the liquor industry; the dominant components 'Blenders' and 'Imperial' are entirely different from 'London'. The court emphasised that composite marks must be compared as a whole, not by isolating individual elements, and that no monopoly can be claimed over non-distinctive terms. The Commercial Court was directed to proceed with the suit on merits within four months.
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