Anand and Anand to represent Toyota-Prius case on August 22nd 2017
Background of the case:
- In 2009, Toyota had filed a case against a proprietary firm and a company (amongst others) by the name of Prius Auto Industries and Prius Auto Accessories Private Limited – the Defendants. Toyota had found serious objection with the Defendants’ use of its trademark, which is the name of its first hybrid car in the world– the PRIUS. The Defendants were also selling indigenously manufactured spare parts under the trademarks TOYOTA, (insert Toyota device) , INNOVA and QUALIS
- Toyota-PRIUS was one of the most heated trademark battles of the Delhi High Court, which brought to an end, when Hon’ble Justice Manmohan Singh delivered the much awaited trademark judgement in Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha versus Deepak Mangal & Ors., CS (OS) 2490 of 2009, in favour of the Japanese automobile giant Toyota
- The Court judged the Defendants’ conduct to be dishonest and acknowledged Toyota’s claim to be compensated monetarily due to the loss of goodwill caused to it through the years
- Prius Auto had challenged the single judge’s findings in an appeal before the division bench of the Delhi High Court.
- The Division Bench reversed the single judge’s decision.
- Before the Supreme Court, Toyota argued that the judgement of the Delhi High Court needed to be reversed since it contained several erroneous findings, which were in direct contravention to the age old established principles of trademark law in India
- Toyota, represented by the law firm Anand and Anand and led by Senior Counsel Mr. P Chidambram, filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the judgement of the High Court on the case
Key Highlights of the case:
- Toyota-PRIUS case is one of the most heated trademark battles of the Delhi High Court. Arguing that, the judgement of the Delhi High Court contained several erroneous findings, Toyota has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the judgement
- The Supreme Court of India issued notice and granted leave on the very first day to the Special Leave Petition filed by Toyota against Judgement delivered by the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court on 23rd December 2016.
- While issuing the notice, the bench comprising HMJ Ranjan Gogoi and HMJ Navin Sinha commented that the judgement in question will be introspected in detail and that the petition worthy of being admitted.
- In the light of the above the Court issued notice to the Respondents and has listed this appeal on the ‘Top of the List’, for a final hearing on August 22, 2017.
- Toyota was represented by the law firm Anand and Anand and was led by Senior Counsel Mr. P Chidambram.
