Delhi HC Protects Britannia’s ‘Good Day’ Trademark from Misuse

The Delhi High Court has delivered a significant ruling in favor of Britannia Industries, protecting its popular ‘Good Day’ trademark from unauthorized use by Desi Bites Snack. The case revolved around the alleged trademark infringement, where Desi Bites had been using the ‘Good Day’ mark for products like soan papdi and papad, which Britannia argued was a clear violation of their intellectual property rights.

Justice Mini Pushkarna, who presided over the matter, issued an ex parte ad interim injunction against Desi Bites, effectively restraining them from using the ‘Good Day’ trademark in any capacity. The court also directed the removal of all infringing products from e-commerce platforms and clarified that Desi Bites could continue manufacturing their goods as long as they avoided the use of the disputed mark.

Britannia’s legal team highlighted that the ‘Good Day’ trademark, registered under Class 30 since 1986, has achieved immense goodwill and reputation in the Indian market. Known for its association with quality bakery and confectionery products, the trademark has become a household name across the country.

The FMCG giant contended that Desi Bites’ use of the ‘Good Day’ mark amounted to trademark infringement, passing off, and unfair competition. Britannia also expressed concerns that such misuse could mislead consumers into associating Desi Bites' products with their brand, potentially causing significant reputational damage.

The court was convinced by Britannia’s argument that monetary compensation would be insufficient to mitigate the harm caused by the dilution of their trademark’s value. Acknowledging the goodwill and reputation associated with the ‘Good Day’ brand, the court noted that identical usage of the mark by Desi Bites could lead to consumer confusion, thereby infringing on Britannia’s rights.

In its final observations, the court ruled that Britannia had successfully established a prima facie case for trademark infringement. Justice Pushkarna emphasized that continued unauthorized use of the mark would cause irreparable harm to Britannia’s brand image.

Key orders issued by the court include:

• Restraining Desi Bites, its associates, and distributors from using the ‘Good Day’ trademark or any deceptively similar mark.
• A directive to remove all infringing products from online marketplaces.
• Permission for Desi Bites to continue selling products without using the disputed mark.

This ruling is a landmark step in safeguarding intellectual property rights in India, reaffirming that established brands must be protected from misuse and unfair competition.