Trademark Infringement: It's Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. v. Patanjali Yoga Sutra App

11 June, 2019:

On the basis of Trademark infringement, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd knocked down the Patanjali Yoga Sutra App designed by Super Audio Madras Ltd.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra App of Super Audio Madras Ltd. chants the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. sends a legal notice of Trademark infringement against the Company.

The Notice stated that “Patanjali” is the registered Trademark of Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. and everyone is prohibited to use the mark or name without its owner’s permission.

The Super Audio Madras Ltd. replied back stating that the Sanskrit texts are 2000 years old and hence comes within the ambit of Traditional norms and cultures. Therefore, there is no infringement on the Complainant's Trademark.

Trademark infringement is the unauthorized use of a Trademark or service mark on goods or services or anything related to that specific goods and services in a manner creating or likely to create confusion, deception or mistake about the original product.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra App is designed by content developer Geethanjali of Super Audio Madras Ltd. The app is available for download on the Apple stores. The textures of Yoga Guru Maharishi Patanjali is chanted by Ananda Balyogi Bhavani in the Yoga Sutra App. The problem arose with the name “Patanjali”. Crowd puller Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. complained that the Patanjali Yoga Sutra app was not associated with the company and therefore, Super Audio Madras Ltd. is liable for Trademark infringement.

“Patanjali” is the registered Trademark of Yoga Guru Ramdev's Company, which incorporated in 2006. The complaint says that the Patanjali Yoga Sutra App used the word and logo without any license or permission. Further, the Patanjali Ayurveda company requested to remove the app at the earliest.

In reply, the Super Audio Madras Ltd. denied the allegations. In support, they said that Patanjali Yoga Sutras are available in the public domain through the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library of the Govt of India. Further the respondent claimed that the App name refers to the Yoga Guru Maharishi Patanjali and hence it has no connection with the goodwill of Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd.

Some days ago four companies were restrained from using the name and producing a similar product in the name of Patanjali without any authority. In the above case, it is to observe whether the name of Maharishi can be protected by Trademark.

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