Delhi Court Ruling Favors Carnatic Cafe in Trademark Dispute

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

A Delhi court has ruled that a Bengaluru eatery must cease using the name “Carnatic” after determining it closely resembles the registered trademark of the prominent Carnatic Cafe.

The controversy began when Lemonpepper Hospitality Pvt Ltd, which operates the Bengaluru restaurant, adopted the name “Carnatic” for its food-related business. The Delhi-based owner of Carnatic Cafe filed a lawsuit for trademark infringement and passing off, contending that the Bengaluru establishment was wrongfully capitalizing on the established reputation of their brand.

On October 29, District Judge Neelam Singh favorably ruled for Carnatic Cafe, noting that the plaintiff had “adequately demonstrated infringement” of its trademark. The court concluded that the defendants had engaged in passing off and unfair trade practices by adopting a misleadingly similar name.

The ruling included a permanent injunction preventing Lemonpepper Hospitality and its representatives from utilizing the term “Carnatic” or any equivalent that may confuse customers regarding restaurant services. Furthermore, they were forbidden from operating the domain www.carnaticrestaurant.com or any site containing the disputed name.

The court granted damages of Rs 50,000 for compensatory and punitive reasons, and Rs 10,000 for legal expenses, to the owner of Carnatic Cafe.

This verdict highlights the increasing importance of trademark rights in India’s culinary and hospitality sectors, where brand loyalty plays a critical role in consumer trust and market distinction.