{"id":17143,"date":"2020-10-01T11:32:17","date_gmt":"2020-10-01T06:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/?p=17143"},"modified":"2020-10-01T11:50:43","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T06:20:43","slug":"online-trademark-litigation-its-sources-remedies-costing-and-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/online-trademark-litigation-its-sources-remedies-costing-and-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Trademark Litigation: Its Sources, Remedies, Costing and Appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Trademark law in India has witnessed tremendous growth in the past few years. There is increasingly aggressive enforcement of trademark rights by Trademark litigation. There is an enhancement in Trademark litigation as cases to claim damages have been filed. In view of the trademark, it can be observed that the regime has been developing fast in its platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Page Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/online-trademark-litigation-its-sources-remedies-costing-and-appeal\/#Enforcement_of_Registered_Trademark_by_Rights_CourtsGovernment_Bodies\" >Enforcement of Registered Trademark by Rights Courts\/Government Bodies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/online-trademark-litigation-its-sources-remedies-costing-and-appeal\/#Principal_Source_of_Law_and_Regulation_related_to_trademark_litigation\" >Principal Source of Law and Regulation related to trademark litigation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/online-trademark-litigation-its-sources-remedies-costing-and-appeal\/#Prescribed_Documents_as_per_Rules_and_Regulations\" >Prescribed Documents as per Rules and Regulations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/online-trademark-litigation-its-sources-remedies-costing-and-appeal\/#How_are_monetary_remedies_assessed_against_a_Registered_Trademark_Infringer\" >How are monetary remedies assessed against a Registered Trademark Infringer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/online-trademark-litigation-its-sources-remedies-costing-and-appeal\/#Appeals_in_Trademark_Litigation\" >Appeals in Trademark Litigation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/online-trademark-litigation-its-sources-remedies-costing-and-appeal\/#Costing_in_Trademark_Litigation\" >Costing in Trademark Litigation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/online-trademark-litigation-its-sources-remedies-costing-and-appeal\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Enforcement_of_Registered_Trademark_by_Rights_CourtsGovernment_Bodies\"><\/span>Enforcement of Registered Trademark by Rights Courts\/Government Bodies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image.png\" alt=\"Registered Trademark \" class=\"wp-image-17144\" srcset=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image.png 585w, https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-300x128.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trademark Registry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the principal authority that regulates the trademark\nlaw in India. It oversees the process of application, prosecution,\nregistration, opposition and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Courts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawsuits for infringement and passing off, among other claims, can only be filed before District Courts and other higher courts in India. There are no specialised courts addressing issues only related to trademark law. However, specialised commercial courts have been created under the Commercial Courts, Commercial Divisions and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Act 2015 (<em><strong>Commercial Courts Act 2015<\/strong><\/em><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legallyindia.com\/views\/entry\/commercial-courts-act-2015f\"><em><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/sup>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Such disputes are not only fast-tracked under the new\nstatute, but they are also heard only by dedicated benches. Further, with a\nrich history of trademark jurisprudence and a strong common law tradition,\nthere is a high degree of expertise, especially in High Courts and the Supreme\nCourt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This quasi-judicial authority is specially created to address issues of IP law. It is the appellate forum where appeals against orders of the Registrar of Trade Marks and others are heard under section 91 of Trade Marks Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/process-of-trademark-registration-step-by-step-guide\/\">Process of Trademark Registration: Step by Step Guide<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Principal_Source_of_Law_and_Regulation_related_to_trademark_litigation\"><\/span>Principal Source of Law and Regulation related to trademark litigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>The details on principal Source of Law and Regulation Related to Trademark Litigations are as follows:-<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">National Statutes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary source of law governing trademarks in India is\nthe Trade Marks Act 1999 (Trade Marks Act). The statute and the newly enacted\nTrade Marks Rules 2017 form a comprehensive regulatory regime. An official guideline\nhas also issued by the Trade Marks Office (TMO), such as the Trade Marks Manual\nwhich govern the several aspects of trademark law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Judicial Precedent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In India, the decisions of courts contribute extensively to\nthe development of trademark law. Decisions of the High Courts (having\nappellate and writ jurisdiction) are binding upon lower courts in their\nrespective jurisdictions which form an essential source of trademark law. Decisions\nof Registrar of Trade Marks as well as the Intellectual Property Appellate\nBoard are also meant to be a major contributor to trademark law in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">International Treaties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>International treaties and conventions are the other sources\nof law in this area. Those Treaties become binding when they are adopted into\ndomestic law. For example, several provisions of the WTO Agreement on (TRIPS)\nTrade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 1994 were enacted in the\nTrade Marks Act. Where such treaties are not part of domestic law, they have\npersuasive though not binding value and help courts to interpret difficult\nareas of domestic law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prescribed_Documents_as_per_Rules_and_Regulations\"><\/span>Prescribed Documents as per Rules and Regulations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Trademark litigation follows the rules prescribed for\ncommercial disputes under the Commercial Courts Act 2015. All relevant\ndocuments need to be filed along with the claim at the time of filing of the\nsuit {order XI, rule 1, Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (Civil Procedure Code)}.\nAdditional documents can be filed within 30 days after the filing of the suit.\nDocuments which are not filed at this stage cannot be relied upon at a later\nstage unless the court grants specific permission to this effect (order XI, rule\n4, Civil Procedure Code).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Witness Evidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Once issues have been framed, parties are required to present evidence. Rules relating to witness evidence include:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Conduct of Examination-in-chief through written\naffidavits (order XVIII, rule 4(1), Civil Procedure Code).<\/li><li>Affidavit evidence of all witnesses for one\nparty must be filed simultaneously (order XVIII, rule 4(1A), Civil Procedure\nCode).<\/li><li>Affidavit of any witness can be validly\nwithdrawn before cross-examination commences (order XVIII, rule 4 (1C), Civil\nProcedure Code).<\/li><li>The evidence is recorded either by the court\ndirectly or by a commissioner appointed by the court (order XVIII, rule 2,\nCivil Procedure Code).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Expert Evidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Expert evidence can be given on aspects of\nforeign law, science, art, identity, handwriting; fingerprints (section 45,\nIndian Evidence Act 1872).<\/li><li>There is no fixed rule determining whether a\nperson is truly an expert or not. This is a question for the court, taking into\naccount relevant experience, credibility, consistency in opinions and so on.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_are_monetary_remedies_assessed_against_a_Registered_Trademark_Infringer\"><\/span>How are monetary remedies assessed against a Registered Trademark Infringer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Monetary remedies are assessed and awarded based on varying criteria. There are three forms in which damages are awarded in trademark litigation, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-1.png\" alt=\"Registered Trademark Infringer\" class=\"wp-image-17145\" srcset=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-1.png 646w, https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-1-300x120.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Actual\/Compensatory Damages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These damages reflect the actual loss that has been caused\nas a result of the infringement and which must be proved by the claimant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Punitive Damages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This form of compensation is granted where the court\nbelieves that the amount of compensatory damages awarded is not proportionate\nto the extent of misconduct by the defendant. In such circumstances, the court\nawards damages over and above compensatory damages which have been already\nquantified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Token\/Nominal Damages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These are awarded in the light of an early resolution of a\ndispute. Alternatively, where defendants have proceeded against ex parte and\nthe claimant is not in a position to prove the exact quantum of losses caused,\nin that case the court can award a fixed sum (as token damages) which it\nbelieves to be reasonable compensation for the infringement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Appeals_in_Trademark_Litigation\"><\/span>Appeals in Trademark Litigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Any litigant has the option of filing an appeal against a final decision, as well as against interim orders<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-2.png\" alt=\"Trademark Litigation\" class=\"wp-image-17146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-2.png 580w, https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-2-300x114.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Appeals from Final Judgments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Any party has a right to file an appeal against final\njudgment before the Appellate Court. This is called the First Appeal (section\n96, Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (Civil Procedure Code)). Suppose the first\nappellate court does not overturn the underlying final decision. In that case,\nthe party can file a regular second appeal before a higher appellate court, but\nonly if substantial question of law is involved (section 100, Civil Procedure\nCode). There is no set timeline for the resolution of a final appeal, and it\ncan take from two to five years to get a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Appeals from Interim Orders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Parties can also file an appeal against interim orders,\nprovided that the appeal is permitted by the Civil Procedure Code (order XLIII,\nrule 1). Other orders can be appealed against when the final judgment in the\nsuit is being appealed. Appeals from interim orders are resolved much quicker\nthan those against final decisions, usually between one and six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stay of Proceedings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This relief is available to litigants only where an appeal\nhas been filed against an interim order. The underlying suit (or order which\nhas been appealed) does not get stayed merely because an appeal has been filed.\nThe aggrieved party has to satisfy the court of the necessity of a stay on the\nunderlying proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Costing_in_Trademark_Litigation\"><\/span>Costing in Trademark Litigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Trademark litigation costs, including attorneys&#8217;\nfees, are recoverable after a first instance decision. However, there is no\ncertainty that costs of litigation will have to be borne by a party against\nwhom an injunction is granted. An award of costs is subject to the discretion\nof the court.<\/li><li>Costs vary depending upon factors such as court\nfees, length of arguments, length of a trial, employment of senior counsel and\nso on.<\/li><li>Since costs play a significant role in\ndetermining the parties&#8217; approach to litigation, courts can require parties to\nsubmit an estimate of costs that they expect to incur during the trial and\nother stages of the action. This also makes it easier for the court to determine\nthe number of costs to be paid. This has been adjudged in the case of \u201c<strong><em>Timken\nCompany v Timken Services Private Limited, Delhi High Court,<\/em><\/strong> CS (OS) 3\nof 2010\u201d.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Trade Mark Rules 2017 <\/em><\/strong>as new rules have facilitated filing applications by reducing the number of application forms from 74 to 8. Other measures such as fee waivers for e-filing, expedited registration process, mandatory filing of a statement of use, defined rules for the determination of well-known trademarks, among others, have received extremely positive responses. <a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/\"><strong>CorpBiz<\/strong><\/a> shall be available for your assistance in case of <a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/trademark-registration\"><strong>Trademark registration<\/strong><\/a> or Litigations. We shall be happy to help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/trademark-infringement-meaning-types-and-remedies\/\">Trademark Infringement: Meaning, Types and Remedies<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trademark law in India has witnessed tremendous growth in the past few years. There is increasingly aggressive enforcement of trademark rights by Trademark litigation. There is an enhancement in Trademark litigation as cases to claim damages have been filed. In view of the trademark, it can be observed that the regime has been developing fast [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":17147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[1056],"acf":{"service_id":"18"},"authorName":"Soumya Bajpai","authorImageUrl":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/0.jpg","authorDescription":"Soumya has done LLB (Hons) and has a 2+years experience in writing. Her main interest is in reading judgments, new enactments and amendments taking around in law. She always strives to bring the best to work that she does.","postViews":4784,"readingTime":5,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17143"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17143"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17143\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17159,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17143\/revisions\/17159"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}