Bombay High Court
B.D.A. Limited vs Shaw Wallace Company Ltd. on 6 November, 1995
Equivalent citations: 1996(5)BOMCR672
JUDGMENT B.U. Wahane, J.
1. Blood is thick than water is exclaimed universally. No distance breaks the tie of blood; brothers are brothers evermore. Brothers foregoing world of pleasure for youngers of same blood seems to have baried in annals of history under the sway and sweep of material commercialization, likewise respect and reverance to elderly and old venerated souls, pitiably feded in thin air. Robert Browning said "Brother's love exceeds all the world's lives in its unworldliness".
2. But the phenomenon of family fued not infrequently had disastrously decreed the course of history to the detriment of many erstwhile illustrious family.
3. Greed of wealth remains arbitrar of destiny of many petty souls, where worldly wisdom is extolled and altruism detested. Milton in 'Paradise Regain' said : "Money brings honour, friends conquest and realms".
Barnord Shaw said :
"The universal regard for money is the one hypothetical fact in our civilization. Money is the most important thing in the world. It represents health, strength, honour, generocity and duty. None the less of its virtues, is that it destroys best people as certainly as it fortifies and dignifies the nobel people".
Thus, it is clear that "Money, thou bane of bliss and source of woe".
4. These three appeals viz. A.O. No. 76/92 (arising out of Civil Suit No. 5/92 in respect of trade mark "Karmozov" (Vodka), A.O. No. 79/92 (arising out of Civil Suit No. 4/92 in respect of trade mark "London Lime" (Gin) and A.O. No. 78/92 (arising out of Civil Suit No. 3/92 in respect of trade mark "Ricardo" (white rum) are directed against the common order passed by the learned District Judge, Nagpur, on Exh. Nos. 5 (sic 4), 5 and 6 respectively, vacating the ad-interim temporary injunction granted earlier in favour of the plaintiff vide order dtd. 11-8-1992 and thereby dismissing the applications for seeking interim injunction against the defendants, its servant, agents and any person claiming by or under through them including subsidiary companies and tie-up units, restraining them from making use of the trade marks "Karmozov", "London Lime" and "Ricardo".
5. The facts giving rise to the present A.Os. are in nutshell, as follows:
The plaintiff-B.D.A. Limited is a Company incorporated and registered under the provisions of Companies Act, 1956 carrying business as manufacturer and distributor of Indian made foreign liquor. Prior to 27th January, 1992 the name of the plaintiff company was B.D.A. Brewaries and Distilleries Ltd. The defendant Shaw Wallace Company Ltd. which is incorporated and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 also carries on business of inter-alia as manufacturer and distributors of Indian made foreign liquor.
6. Prior to 3rd August, 1990 the plaintiff was a subsidiary of Arunava Investments Ltd. The said Arunava Investments Ltd. was a subsidiary of Paraganas Investments Ltd.. The said Paraganas Investments Ltd., was a subsidiary of Cruickshank & Company Ltd. and the said Cruickshank & Company Ltd. is 100% subsidiary of defendant-Company. Therefore, the plaintiff was a part of defendant's group prior to 3rd August, 1990. Since 3rd August, 1990 the plaintiff-company ceased to be a subsidiary of Arunava Investments Ltd..
7. Before 30-1-1992, Shri Shovan Roy was and is an employee and Vice-President of the defendant-Company. He is incharge of one of the defendant's liquor divisions run through Cruickshank and Company Ltd.. Prior to plaintiff's ceasing to be a subsidiary of the defendant, Shri Shovan Roy's services were lent to the plaintiff by the defendant inter alia as Director of the plaintiff-Company. Since 3rd August, 1990 Shri Shovan Roy ceased to be the Director of the plaintiff-Company, since the plaintiff-Company ceased to be the subsidiary of the defendant. However, his services were made available to the plaintiff by the defendant in the capacity of a Constituted Attorney of the plaintiff-Company by virtue of the Power of Attorney dtd. 26-12-1990 issued by the plaintiff to the said Shovan Roy. As per the averments made in para 10, serious disputes arose between the members of Chhabria Family i.e. Manu Chhabria on one side and the rest of the members of Chhabria family on the other. Because of the disputes, proceedings were instituted in number of Court at different places.
8. According to the plaintiff, at all the material times, the plaintiffs are the exclusive owners of the said trade marks as also of the said Labels and are exclusively entitled to the use thereof. Admittedly, the said trade marks are unregistered one.
9. According to the plaintiff, it also conceived of and adopted a distinctive artistic label having a distinctive get-up and colour bearing the trade marks. The plaintiff through their former trade mark agents by their application dtd. 31-1-1992 applied for registration of the said trade marks under the provision of the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 (hereinafter referred to as "the said Act") under Clause 33 in respect of alcoholic beverages. The plaintiff allowed the defendant by an arrangement in the nature of a License to use the plaintiff's said trade marks upon and in respect of the said product viz. "Dry Gin with Lime". It was agreed in this connection that the defendant will disclose upon the said trade mark label, that the defendants are bottling and marketing the said product" for and on behalf of the plaintiff", indicating to members of the trade, public and statutory authorities that the plaintiff is the proprietor of the said trade mark. It was further agreed that the defendant will pay to the plaintiff royalty for the use of the said trade mark at the rate of Rs. 150/- per case.
It is also alleged by the plaintiff that this grant in the nature of licence was valid only temporarily for the period between September 1991 to 31st July, 1992. "London Lime" trade mark was blended and bottled by Maharashtra Distilleries Ltd. Aurangabad on behalf of the plaintiff's Company B.D.A. Breweries and Distilleries Ltd.
According to the plaintiff, the trade mark "London Lime" was conceived and adopted in December, 1990. "Ricardo" was conceived and adopted in June 1991 but actually used in December, 1991. "Karmazov" was conceived and adopted in June 1990 but actually launched and used in December 1990.
10. It is further averred that in view of the disputes in the family, the defendant company started taking wrongful advantage dishonestly by marketing the products of the plaintiff from May, 1992. In furtherance, it advertised the said produces through an advertising agency known as Rediffusion without distinctively showing the plaintiff as the owner of the said trade-marks; thereby, the defendant allegedly claimed proprietorship of the trade marks/labels. The defendant Company started displaying the logo of the defendant Company on the bottles and in effect usurp the said marks as belonging to the defendant-Company. The impugned advertisement of the defendant company so far as the trade mark "London Lime" is concerned, is placed on record as Exh. D under list Exh. 4. Consequently, the plaintiff-Company issued a letter dtd. 31-7-1992 to the defendant-Company, terminating the said grant in the nature of licence because the defendant by defiance committed a breach of their duties and obligations as agents for the plaintiff. Further the defendant was called upon not to use the said trade marks, in respect of any products manufactured or marketed by them. The plaintiff is apprehending continuous injury to their goodwill and reputation at the hands of the defendant on account of illegal user of the brands, as such the suits came to be filed on 4th August, 1992.
11. The defendant filed reply to the application under Order 39, Rules 1 and 2 of C.P.C. Besides merits, some preliminary objections were raised in the reply; viz. the suit being misconceived and thereby not maintainable and the Court at Nagpur has no jurisdiction to try the suit. On merit the defendant specifically denied that the development of trade marks named "London Lime" to have been conceived and adopted by the plaintiff. Other trade marks/labels were conceived and adopted by Shaw Wallace and not by the B.D.A. Breweries and Distilleries Ltd.. Further, it is specifically submitted in para 15 that the essences constituting blends are developed by Shaw Wallace and the technical know-how is of Shaw Wallace. The main ingredient in the Liquor product is the technical know-how of preparing and maintaining the essences, blends etc. which are the exclusive dominion of Shaw Wallace and the plaintiff has no contribution for the same in respect of the brands in question in the present proceedings and the connected proceedings.
12. In paras 18 to 27, it is submitted that Shaw Wallace is the principal company managing large group of subsidiary companies. Shaw Wallace group is engaged in the business of manufacturing and sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor, in India for about a 100 years. Mr. M. R. Chhabria and his younger brother Mr. K.R. Chhabria both acquired control in the year 1986-87 and became its Directors with effect from 23-3-1987. Thereafter Mr. M. R. Chhabria became the Chairman of Shaw Wallace while Mr. K.R. Chhabria the Managing Director with effect from 23-6-1987 for a period of 5 years. However, eventually both the brothers suffered strained relations. According to the defendant, Mr. K.R. Chhabria in collusion and conspiracy with the certain employees of Shaw Wallace group, took away profitable business, funds investments, interests, companies, assets and properties for his personal gain and benefits. Thereby to carve out and create for himself a parallel empire to Shaw Wallace, totally; at the cost and expense of Shaw Wallace group. The plaintiff tried to take away the B.D.A. Breweries and Distilleries Ltd., from the hold of Shaw Wallace. B.D.A. was originally owned and controlled by some third parties. In 1988, the shares in B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd., were acquired by Shaw Wallace group through subsidiary companies. Thus, it became a subsidiary of Shaw Wallace.
As stated in para 28 of the reply, the Shaw Wallace and the subsidiaries made substantial investments in B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. and it was promoted as one of the main manufacturing units of the group. Mr. K.R. Chhabria mooted the idea at the Group Executive Committee of Shaw Wallace group held on 27-8-1989 that B. D. A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. be de-subsidiarised. The decision was taken to desubsidiarise B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd., and to continue to manage the said company as the part of the Shaw Wallace group. The desubsidiarisation was done with a specific purpose namely to facilitate the growth of B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. as also for the continued benefits to the group as a whole.
Mr. K.R. Chhabria in consultation with the executives in the liquor division of Shaw Wallace group decided to form new division to engage in the development and business mainly, in White spirit namely; VODKA, GIN, WHITE RUM etc.. The brands "London Limes", "Karmazov" and "Ricardo" formed a part of new division. The brands developed include the trade marks/label i.e., "London Lime, Ricardo and Karmazov". According to the defendant, the development of each of the trade marks/brands/labels involved a detailed work and substantial expenses. The process involved for the development and bringing into the market a new brand has been detailed in para 38 of the reply. The entire process was undertaken and executed by Shaw Wallace and not by any other person. The entire expenses and related correspondence with various agencies were conducted by Shaw Wallace. To substantiate their submissions, the defendant filed various documents on record. According to the defendant, expenses amounting to Rs. 1,41,00,000/- to conceive and develop the above stated three brands, were borne by the defendant, while the share of the plaintiff-Company had only bears Rs, 2,50,000/-. The details of the expenses have been given in para 45 of the reply.
13. It is stated in paras 41 to 43 of the reply that Shaw Wallace group instructed the International Trade Marks Bureau to make the application to the Registrar of Trade Marks for registration of some of the trade marks developed by Shaw Wallace group in the names of B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. and some in the name of Standard B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Standard"). Pursuant to above, the applications were initially, filed in the name of 'Standard' in respect of London Lime, Karmazov and Ricardo. The applications were made in respect of the three brands in September 1991. The said applications in the name of 'Standard' were withdrawn and a fresh application for registration was made in the name of B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd.. Dates of withdrawal and of fresh applications are given in para 43.
The defendant further stated in para 46 of the reply that the marketing of all the three brands named "London Lime, Ricardo and Karmazov" has been done by Shaw Wallace and not by B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. or B.D.A. Ltd., from December 1990 in respect of 'Karmazov'; from June 1991 in respect of 'London Lime' and from December 1991 in respect of 'Ricardo'. In para 47 of the reply, it is specifically stated that though there is a distillery unit in the name of B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. at Aurangabad, the same three brands have not been manufactured there at any time. It is specifically denied that there was any arrangement or agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant regarding the manufacturing or marketing of the brands. Consequently, question of Royalty or payment of any type being payable to the plaintiff, does not arise. In para 48 of the reply, it is specifically stated that no amount whatsoever has been spent by B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd., B.D.A. Ltd. or Standard for the development or launching of the brands. These companies being always a part of the group, the application for registration of the trade marks were filed in their names. In fact, the name of the B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd., was shown in the labels when the application for registration was pending in the name of Standard. The labels of brand 'Karmazov' was initially launched in the name of Shaw Wallace alone. Thus, the plaintiff cannot claim ownership of the trade marks/labels merely by reference to the use of name of B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. or on account of filing application for registration of the trade marks in the name of the said companies.
14. On 3rd October, 1992 an application Exh. 22 was filed for permission to amend the plaint.
15. From the submissions of the learned Counsel of the parties, it would be gathered that the appellant/plaintiffs made certain amendments to the plaint and the defendants suitably filed the amended written statement. However, there are applications for a prayer to amend the plaints in all the three suits. However, no orders appear to have been passed by the learned Court below. Consequently, when such of the anomaly came to my notice during the dictation of the Judgment, the learned Counsel of the parties were called and such anomaly was brought to their notice. The counsel of the parties perused the entire record of the three suits and conceded that no orders are passed on the applications praying for amendments to the plaint. Initially, the learned Counsel sought time to think over and to seek advice of the Senior Counsel representing the plaintiff-Company and defendant-Company. Ultimately, the learned Counsel on behalf of the appellant filed applications dtd. 9-3-1995 before me praying for appropriate orders on the applications for amendments in all the three suits. It is specifically stated in the applications to the effect that the trial Court has allowed the applications and on such assumption replies were filed and submissions were advanced, which find place in the impugned order also; which was not controverted by the respondents. In view of the facts the learned Counsel for the plaintiff submitted that the amendment applications be allowed. The learned Counsel for the respondent also expressed in terms of no objection for allowing the applications dtd. 9-3-1995. After hearing the learned counsel of the parties, this Court on 16th March, 1995 allowed the applications praying amendments to the plaints in all the three suits and directed the appellant/plaintiff to carry out the amendments proposed. By the amendment applications, paras 5-A, 6-A, 9-A, 22-A and 31-A came to be so amended. By this amendments, the plaintiff avers that the trade marks/trade labels were concerned by the plaintiff for it's own product and in furtherance the instructions were issued to the plaintiff's trade mark Agent to make suitable applications for registration of the said trade marks or labels in the name of the plaintiff. Initially, the applications were directed to be submitted before the Competent Authority in the name of "Standard Distilleries and Breweries Private Co. Ltd.", a company belonging to the Family Group of Chhabria. Meanwhile, the plaintiff had decided to launch the brand in the market. One Mr. Shoven Roy a constituted power of attorney holder of the plaintiff-Company, however, fraudulently applied for withdrawal of the application in respect of the brand or label, act being breach of terms of power, the same was withdrawn.
16. According to the plaintiff, it was also decided in the year 1986-87 to market an Indian made Foreign Liquor and Beer and the idea was mooted to incorporate a company, independantly and exclusively to engage in the development and business of White Spirit i.e. "Vodka- Gin White Rum" etc. and other liquor products. The said new Company, it was emphased to be an independent entity and not a part of "SHAW WALLACE GROUP". In pursuance of the aforesaid decision, the plaintiff company came into existance sometimes in the month of March, 1988. The Company was to be a subsidiary of the defendant till August, 1990 as decided in the Company meeting of SHAW WALLACE GROUP held on 27-8-1989 and thereby the plaintiff company was legally and factually discontinued to be so from 3rd August, 1990.
17. The label/trade mark "LONDON LIME" was conceived by the plaintiff. After the labels were got designed, the plaintiff-Company permitted the defendant by an oral licence to manufacture and market the products under the said trade mark/trade label. However, the plaintiff retained exercise of control over the manufacture of the product through one Shri Shovan Roy who was the Vice President of the defendant.
18. It is further submitted that allegations of the claim of the defendant to be owner of the trade mark/trade mark label "Karmazov" is palpably false. It is further submitted that the defendant has at all material times, recognised the plaintiff to be the exclusive owner of the trade mark/trade mark label in question. Even before the Excise Authorities, the defendant was directed to obtain "No Objection" from the plaintiff for manufacturing the product and the plaintiff did grant such permission to the defendant company which is crystal clear from the documents filed in the office of the Excise and Prohibition Commissioner, Maharashtra State, Bombay which were accordingly produced as directed by the learned trial Court.
19. On the basis of the pleadings of the parties and having heard the learned Counsel of the parties, the learned trial Judge formulated the following issues for his consideration.
i) Whether the plaintiff-Company in each of the suits make out a case for continuation of interim injunction pending hearing and disposal of the suit?
ii) Whether balance of convenience lies in favour of the plaintiff company for continuation of the order of interim temporary injunction?
20. The learned trial Judge after scrutinising the evidence placed on record, vacated the temporary injunction issued earlier vide order dtd. 11-8-92 and dismissed the applications for interim injunction, vide order dtd. 22-10-1992.
21. Shri Dharmadhikari, the learned Counsel for the appellant/plaintiff vehemently submitted that the order impugned is clearly unsustainable in Law as it suffers from non-application of mind to the relevant position of Law and the materials on record. It is further submitted that the learned trial Court has committed error in not applying its mind to the admitted facts and the conduct of the defendant which demonstrates that the defendant at all the material times, acknowledged the ownership of the plaintiff in relation to the suit trade marks/labels. It is further submitted that the overwhelming documentary evidence on record only indicates that prima-facie the plaintiff is the owner of the suit trade marks and thereby the defendant's claim as originator of the suit trade marks ought not to have been accepted without trial. The learned trial Judge also lost sight, to the fact that, since, 3rd August, 1990 the plaintiff admittedly desubsidiarised and, therefore, whereafter the question that the defendant's originating the suit trade marks/labels for the plaintiff does not arise. The learned trial Court ought to have held that each of the three trade marks in the suits were conceived, coined and/or originated after desubsidiarising of the plaintiff-Company. The learned Court below, in para 17 of the order impugned accepts that the plaintiff is the only proprietor who can apply for registration of trade mark and still ignores the necessary implication of the fact that the applications for registration of the suit trade marks/labels were made with the consent and knowledge of the defendant which amounts to a clear admission on the part of the defendant that the plaintiff is the owner of the said trade marks.
22. The learned Counsel of the parties took me through the plaint averments, written statements, documents placed on record by both the parties and the findings of the learned trial Court and they are also heard at length.
23. Admittedly, the plaintiff-Company B.D.A. Ltd. was under the umbrella of S.W. Group till 3rd August, 1990 though the move of desubsidiarisation was made in the year 1989.
i) The trade mark/trade label "London Lime" is conceived and adopted in December 1990 and used from September 1991.
ii) The trade mark/trade label "Karmazov" was conceived and adopted in June, 1990 and actually launched and used from December 1990.
iii) The trade mark/trade label "Ricardo" was conceived and adopted in June, 1991 and actually launched and used from December 1991.
To register the above three trade marks, the plaintiff-Company approached or applied on or about 30th or 31st January, 1992. The application for registration of trade mark "London Lime" (C. S. No. 4/92) was made on 31st January, 1992. The applications for the registration of trade mark "Ricardo" White Rum (C. S. No. 3/92) and trade mark "Karmazov" (C. S. No. 5/92) appear to be made on 30th January, 1992.
Thereby, it is submitted by Shri Dharmadhikari, the learned Counsel for the appellant/plaintiff that all these trade marks or trade labels were conceived, adopted and applied for registration by the plaintiff-Company it being a separate legal entity and thereby the plaintiff-Company is the true owner and proprietor of the concerned three trade marks. The plaintiff-Company only gave oral licence to the defendant-Company as regards the user of the said trade marks and the plaintiff-Company is entitled to be protected by the motion in passing of.
24. It is submitted that the power of attorney dtd. 26th December, 1990 granted by the plaintiff to one Mr. Shovan Roy was cancelled and/or revoked on 29th April, 1992 and to that effect an advertisement was issued in the "Indian Express" published on 21-4-1992. In view of the oral agreement for the user of the trade marks/labels, the defendant was to pay royalty at Rs. 150/- per case to the plaintiff-Company. In spite of this arrangement the defendant started showing the trade marks as their own from May, 1992 through advertising agency known as "Rediffusion" disowning the plaintiff as owner and indicating the defendant's name in the left hand corner of the advertisement. It is, therefore, submitted that from such advertisement, any lame (lay) person would conclude that the owner of the trade mark is the defendant. The original label which is placed at "Exh. A", specifically demonstrates that "London Lime" Dry Gin with lime is blended and bottled at the Maharashtra Distilleries Limited, Aurangabad for B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. It is clear that the labels at "Exh. A and Exh. D" are different label though for "London Lime". But in an advertisement different aspects have been touched. The defendant by such misrepresentation committed breach as an agent of the plaintiff-Company and hence a letter dtd. 21st of July, 1992 was issued to the defendant terminating the arrangement and warning to cease and desist forth-with from using the said trade mark "London Lime".
25. The learned Counsel invited my attention to the various documents to show that the trade marks/trade labels were conceived by the plaintiff. "Conceiving trade mark means conceiving idea for the label". The defendant-Company and other subsidiary companies under its umbrella were aware that the plaintiff conceived the trade mark/trade label and therefore, the defendant sought permission for the use of it from the plaintiff-Company. One such letter dtd. 16-1-1991 addressed to the plaintiff is placed on record which shows that;
"This has reference to the various discussions we had from time to time and we now request you to kindly permit us to use your brand "London Lime" Dry Gin with Lime to be manufactured by us for marketing in India."
This letter is addressed by a Member Company of the S.W. Groups viz. The Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd.. In response, the plaintiff sent a communication on 22-1-1991 to the M/s Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd., according its consent. The letter says;
"Thank you for your letter dtd. 16-1-1991 seeking our approval for allowing you to manufacture our brand "London Lime" Dry Gin with Lime to be manufactured. In view of the discussions we had in the past we have no objection whatsoever for your manufacturing of the aforesaid brand of Gin to be marketing in India."
26. The Commissioner, State Excise, Bombay accorded permission to use the label "London Lime" in view of the agreement between the plaintiff and defendant This communication is dtd. 18th April, 1991. As per the para 6 of this letter, the Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd. is directed to submit the deed of agreement. The label or trade mark "London Lime" placed on record at page No. 100, shows that M/s Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd. blended and bottled the Dry Gin with lime for the plaintiff. M/s Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd., acknowledged the approval granted by the Commissioner of State Excise Bombay vide letter dtd. 8th July, 1991 as also forwarded the copy of said agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant. A communication dtd. 30th April, 1991 from the plaintiff to the Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd. indicates the terms of agreement between the plaintiff and Shaw Wallace Group. The condition No. 10 indicates;
"The Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd. will sell "London Lime" a Dry Gin to Shaw Wallace or such other parties who may be authorised by them or by Shaw Wallace to obtain supplies directly from the Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd., in accordance with the Rules and Regulations".
The terms and conditions were accepted by the Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd. and to that effect at the end of the agreement an endorsement is made by the Factory Manager, of the said company.
27. As regards the trade mark/trade label "Ricardo" also it indicates that the Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd. was to blend and bottle the White Rum for the plaintiff. The Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd., approached the Commissioner of the State Excise, Bombay by letter dtd. 17th June, 1991 seeking approval of labels "Ricardo" white rum. The Commissioner of State Excise accorded approval vide letter dtd. 20th March, 1992. The document is placed on record at page 250.
28. As regards to "Karmazov" Vodka Label, The Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd. vide letter dtd. 6th December, 1991 approached the Commissioner of State Excise Bombay wherein it is stated that the Company had received the consent from the plaintiff for manufacture and sale of their brand through M/s. Shaw Wallace Co. Ltd.. The copy of the sanction is also enclosed with this letter. Another letter which is placed on record at page 110, addressed by the defendant Company to the plaintiff on 20th November 1991 speaks about the request made for the permission to use the brand "Karmazov Vodka". It reads as:
"This has reference to the various discussions had from time to time and we now request you to kindly permit to use your brand "Karmazov Vodka" to be marketed by us after the same is manufactured by one of our tie up Units viz. Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd. Aurangabad."
In response to the letter dtd. 20th November, 1991 the consent letter was sent by the plaintiff to the defendant Company on 28-11-1991 which is placed on record at page 111. At page 112, the copy of the speciman of the label "Karmazov Vodka" is placed on record. It speaks that:
"The Maharashtra Distillaries Ltd. Aurangabad to blend and bottle for the defendant but at the bottom of the trade mark against the trade mark T.M., the name of B. D. A. Breweries is shown".
29. The circumstances referred to above in respect of all the three trade marks viz. ":London Lime", "Ricardo" and "Karmazov" apparently demonstrates that the plaintiff is the owner who conceived the labels.
30. Sections 17 to 21 of the Indian Evidence Act, deal admission and confession. Section 17 defines admission/admissions as under:
"An admission is a statement, oral or documentary, which suggests any inference as to any fact in issue or relevant fact, and which is made by any of the persons and under the circumstances, hereinafter mentioned".
Section 18 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 reads as under :
"Statements made by a party to the proceeding, or by an agent to any such party, whom the Court regards, under the circumstances of the case, as expressly or impliedly authorized by him to make them, are admissions".
Their Lordships of the Supreme Court in a case of Narayan Swami v. State of Maharashtra, , laid down that;
"Admission is a substantive evidence, though it is open to the person who made the admission to show that the fact admitted is not correct."
In a case of Ramji Dayawala and Sons. v. Invest Import, . Their Lordships observed that;
"Admission unless explained, furnishes best evidence".
31. The defendant explained the situation that the letters have been written by the subsidiary Company without any authority obtained from the Head Office and, therefore, those letters are not to be taken into consideration unless it is explained in the evidence. It amounts to denialof the alleged admission. According to the learned Counsel for the appellant/plaintiff such rebuttal explanation is not at all satisfactory because the defendant company and its subsidiaries were aware that since 3rd August, 1990 the defendant-Company had lost control over the plaintiff-Company, since relations stands severed and the plaintiff-Company sprung into existance as an independent entity. Therefore, such denial particularly after breaking the relation, and developing strained relations, the stand is nothing but an afterthought which cannot be taken into consideration.
32. According to the appellant/plaintiff, by placing voluminous material and that too in the form of the documents by the plaintiff, it sufficiently demonstrated presence of prima-facie case for grant of relief of injunction under Order 39, Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The circumstances can be summariesd as follows:
i) The defendant Company always treated the plaintiff Company as the owner of the trade marks/trade labels till March, 1992.
ii) The defendant or its subsidiaries or it's groups; represented the Government Authority i.e. The Commissioner of State Excise, Bombay under the statute that the plaintiff is the owner of the trade marks/trade labels and thereby obtained approval for the three trade marks/trade labels in dispute.
iii) Represented the public at large by the defendant/its subsidiaries or it's group by flooding the market by labels showing the plaintiff as a owner.
iv) Admittedly, the application for registration of the trade marks/trade labels was made by the plaintiff-Company either through defendant or its subsidiaries companies.
v) The denial of ownership of the plaintiff is after break in the relations between the plaintiff and the defendant companies.
33. What is prima facie, is discussed by this Court in a case of Inayat Hussain Fakhruddin and another v. Union of India and another, 1979 Mah. L.J. 514 (Tulpule, J.,) In para 19, it is observed that;
"It is true that when a Court has to consider whether an injunction should be granted or otherwise it has to consider only a prima-facie case. A prima-facie case, it is well laid down, does not mean a case which will succeed, but a case which is not such as is apparently barred by any provisions of law and in respect of which something can be said in favour of the plaintiff. The minimum to which the plaintiff is entitled is to show that he has some sort of a prima-facie case which requires further investigation".
In a case of George v. State, , what should be the consideration for grant of temporary injunction has been observed in para 3 as under:
"The rule that before the issue of a temporary injunction the Court must satisfy itself that the plaintiff has a prima-facie case, does not mean that the Court should examine the merits of the case closely and come to a conclusion that the plaintiff has a case in which he is likely to succeed. This would amount to pre-judging the case on its merits. All that the Court has to see is that on the face of it the person applying for an injunction has a case which needs consideration and which is not bound to fail by virtue of some apparent defects. The balance of convenience also has to be looked into".
34. The learned Counsel for the appellant-plaintiff posed a question that in view of the circumstances and principles laid down, whether such over-whelming evidence could be brushed aside at this stage only because the defendant claims ownership? Obviously not, according to the learned Counsel for the appellant/plaintiff and added that the learned trial Court has committed grave error in not appreciating the overwhelming evidence placed on record.
35. As regards the balance of convenience, it is submitted that though the defendant acknowledges the plaintiff as the owner, subsequently attempted fraudulently not to show the plaintiff as owner in the publication or advertisement. If no injunction is granted restraining the defendant making use and marketing the Indian made liquor using the labels in the sports means the good-will naturally and allowed the defendant to continue the business misusing the good-will of the plaintiff, the suits will be infructuous.
In-spite of the cancellation of oral agreement, if the defendant is allowed to continue to use the labels in dispute and as admittedly in view of the relations being not only strained but broken up, the plaintiff will have no link or connection with the defendant's property and the plaintiff would suffer irreparable loss. Considering the strained relations, though the Directors of the plaintiff and defendant Companies' are real brothers they are not at sight of each other, there is likelihood to cause damage to the reputation and good-will of the plaintiff and manufacturing of impure liquor cannot be ruled out. The plaintiff is the owner of the other Indian liquor brands. In such situation the plaintiff's entire business will be damaged and he will get set-back which would be difficult to measure in terms of money and thereby the plaintiff would suffer irreparable loss. Therefore, equity demands or lies in granting injunction restraining the defendant and it's subsidiaries or agents not to make the use of the trade marks/trade labels in dispute.
36. Shri Dharmadhikari, the learned Counsel for the appellant/plaintiff further submitted that the plaintiff has aptly proved that he is the owner of the trade marks having conceived and adopted till April or May, 1992 as averred in para No. 7 of the plaint. Further it is submitted that there was an agreement regarding the use of the trade marks by paying royalty of Rs. 150/- per case by the defendant Company to the plaintiff Company. It is contended that this arrangement in common law is entitled to be protected by the present motion in passing off. The object of the law of passing off is to protect the property usually the goodwill of the plaintiff in his business or his goods or his services or in the work which he produces or something of that kind. Passing off is a form of tort. The substantive law of passing off is almost entirely based on common law i.e. case law.
37. Passing off is not defined in the Act. It is referred in section 27(2), 105(c) and 106 of the Merchandise Act. Section 27(2) states that;
"the rights of action against any person for passing off the goods as the goods of another person or the remedies in respect thereof are unaffected by the provisions of the Act".
Section 105(c) refers to jurisdiction of courts to try suits for passing off arising out of the use of any trade mark."
Section 106 specified the remedies available in respect of passing off arising from the use of a trade mark".
According to Shri Dharmadhikari the learned Counsel, the working of the plaintiff company and defendant company were subsequently closed till the plaintiff-Company was established. It has sufficiently been shown that the effect of the use, by the different companies, of trade marks, according to the plaintiff was likely to lead to deception or confusion which would directly or indirectly injure the goodwill of the plaintiff and thereby such invasion could result in the damage or that it would create a real and tangible risk and damage will ensue. It is not disputed that the plaintiff company enjoys reputation in respect of the business of Indian made liquor.
A proprietary right in a mark requires to be registered and can be obtained in number of ways. The mark can be originated by a person, or it can be acquired but in all cases it is necessary that the person putting forward the application would be in possession of some proprietary right which, if questioned, can be substantiated. A reliance has been placed on a case of Sunder Parmanand Lalwani and others v. Caltex (India) Ltd., in which it is observed that;
"A proprietary right in a mark can be obtained in a number of ways. The mark can be originated by a person, or it can be subsequently acquired by him from somebody else.
One of the modes of acquisition of proprietorships may be if an Indian businessman happens to import and sell in India foreign goods of a foreign trader with the latter's foreign trade mark. If the Indian trader sells those goods in India, a question may arise who is entitled to that trade mark. It is quite clear that the mark being a foreign trade mark, the proprietorship as to India will be determined according to its use in the market of this country. Now, if there is a specific agreement as to proprietorship of that mark, that agreement will govern as between the foreign owner and Indian Importer. If, however, there is no specific agreement diverse factors will govern the determination as to which of the two is the proprietor in India. That determination must depend on the facts of each case. If, for example, the Indian Importer has acted merely as an agent of the foreign owner, the probabilities would be that the trade mark continues to belong to the foreign owner and not to the Indian Importer. If, however, the transaction between the foreign owner and the Indian Importer has been on the basis of principal to principal, the position may be a little more complicated. There again one of the more important considerations would be to whom was credit given that is whether the purchasing public paid regard to the reputation of the foreign manufacturer or to the Indian Importer. In some cases, it may happen that the foreign manufacturer is so well known that which importer imported the goods and sold them in India would be immaterial. The converse may happen when a firm of great repute in India imports and sells goods, and the purchasing public attaches value to the reputation of the Indian Importer who selects to import the goods and not to the reputation of the manufacturer of the goods."
What is meant by passing off action and its essentials have been discussed in a case of Ellora Industries, Delhi v. Banarasi Dass Goela, . It is observed that;
"(A) Torts--Passing of action--Essentials. It is complementary to Trade mark Law. If trade mark is registered for goods, any passing off is likely to involve infringement of rights given by registration. Held, on facts that it was a case of passing off and of infringement also (Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 Ss. 29 and 106."
38. Shri Dharmadhikari, the learned Counsel for the appellant/plaintiff vehemently submitted that the plaintiff is the owner of all the three labels in dispute being originator and developer. The defendant Company also claimed to be the owner and to that effect particularly stated that different companies conceived and developed all the three labels in dispute and for that purpose he has spent about 1 crore and 41 lakhs. For one mark and one source there cannot be more than one proprietors. It cannot be construed that 3 labels in dispute have been originated by two companies. To this effect, a reliance has been placed on a case of M/s Power Control Appliances and others v. M/s Sumeet Machines Pvt. Ltd., Judgements Today, 1994 2 Supreme Court 70.
In para 44, Their Lordships observed as under:
"It is a settled principle of law relating to trade mark that there can be only one mark, one source and one proprietor. Where therefore, the first defendant respondent has proclaimed himself as a rival of the plaintiffs and as joint owner it is impermissible in law. Even then, the joint proprietors must use the trade mark jointly for the benefit of all. It cannot be used in rivalry and in competition with each other".
39. Shri Dharmadhikari, the learned Counsel for the appellant/plaintiff further submitted that in view of the voluminous material placed on record before the learned trial Court, the learned trial Court ought to have passed injunction in favour of the appellant/plaintiff restraining the defendant and it's agents or servants or subsidiaries from using the trade marks/trade labels concerned. However, it seems that the learned trial Court was influenced by the documents placed for the expense by the defendant. It is the case of the defendant that the plaintiff-Company being subsidiary of the defendant company, the expenses were incurred to conceive and adopt the labels and also to manufacture the Indian liquor as also marketing the same and thereby the defendant-Company is the owner. Perusal of the bills placed on record do not pertain to the expenses for the development of the labels. Most of the bills or estimates do not have any nexus or relations whatsoever with the origination and developments of the trade marks/trade labels. The documents filed by the defendant-Company are not admitted documents unless and until they are proved. Those documents cannot be taken into consideration while deciding the applications filed under Order 39, Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Under the circumstances, the tall claim about expenses be outrightly rejected. Unless put to trial evidence adduced, cross examined, the documents do not established that the expenses have been incurred for conceiving and adopting the trade marks/labels. Assuming mere payments made by the defendant to conceive and adopt the trade marks/labels, the defendant company does not become the owner.
In view of the submissions made in preceding paras, according to Shri Dharmadhikari, the learned Counsel for the plaintiff, the impugned order passed by the learned trial Court is illegal, perverse and therefore, it deserves to be set aside and the applications filed by the appellant/plaintiff in all three suits for grant of injunction be allowed.
39A. To repel the submissions of Shri Dharmadhikari the learned Counsel for the appellant/plaintiff, Shri A.K. Sen, the learned Senior Counsel for the respondent, submitted that the defendant company Shaw Wallace is a premier manufacturer of Indian made foreign liquor. It was jointly run till the petitioner-Company independently was formed i.e. in August, 1992. The defendant-Company was run by Chhabria Family i.e. by two brothers. Mr. M.R. Chhabria the elder brother resides in Dubai. The younger brother Shri K.R. Chhabria the Managing Director upto April, 1992 i.e. till he was removed from the post of Managing Director from 11th April, 1992. The relations between the two brothers became strained and present dispute arose. However, the plaintiff company continued to be under the defendant company. In December, 1990 the defendant company applied to the Excise Authorities in the State of Maharashtra and West Bengal for approval of the trade label "Karmazov Vodka" and subsequently the product so labelled was put for sale in both the States. The trade mark/trade label was approved on 18-1-1991.
40. For the development of these three labels in dispute, the defendant company incurred the cost worth of Rs. 1 crore and 41 lakhs. The various documents in respect of the expenditure have been placed on record. On behalf of the appellant/plaintiff to conceive and adopt the three brands, no documents have been placed on record towards expenditure. No account is produced. Similarly, no ground in appeal has been taken that they are unable to produce the documents.
The Standard Distillery was under the control of Shaw Wallace and Mr. K.R. Chhabria was the Managing Director. Even after being desubsidiarised, it was controlled by the defendant company. The Maharashtra Distilleries Limited, Aurangabad the subsidiary of Shaw Wallace is engaged in only blending and bottling. The entire market is controlled by Shaw Wallace including manufacturing and blending.
41. The trade mark/trade label "Ricardo" is developed in June, 1991 while the "London Lime" in December 1990. In December, 1990, the plaintiff-Company was the subsidiary of the defendant-Company. The Standard Distilleries was under the control of the defendant-Company and Mr. K. R. Chhabria was the Managing Director of it. The Standard Distilleries and Breweries Limited Company was incorporated on 21-7-1989. Standard Distilleries was promoted for the increase of the business opportunities of Shaw Wallace Group (as stated in para 41 of the submission). Even after plaintiff company's subsidiarisation, the Standard Distilleries was under the control of the defendant-Company. Similarly, admittedly the Maharashtra Distilleries Limited, Aurangabad is the subsidiary of the defendant Company which was only blending and bottling the product and the entire marketing was controlled by the defendant-Company, including manufacturing and blending.
42. In para No. 42 of the submission filed on record by the defendant, it is submitted that;
"At the instance of K.R. Chhabria, Shaw Wallace Group instructed the International Trade Marks Bureau to make the applications to the Registrar of Trade Marks for registration of some of the trade marks developed by Shaw Wallace Group in the names of B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Limited and some in the name of Standard. Pursuant to the above the applications were initially filed in the name of Standard in respect of "London Lime, Karmazov and Ricardo" which, are the subject matters of the present litigations. The applications were made in the name of Standard in respect of the above three brands in September, 1991."
43. Subsequently the applications in the names of Standard were withdrawn and fresh applications for registration of the above trade marks in the name of B.D.A. Breweries & Distilleries Limited were filed. The dates of withdrawal and dates of fresh applications in respect of the 3 trade marks/labels are as follows:---
Name of label Date of Withdrawal Fresh date of application. i) London Lime 5-2-1992 3-3-1992 ii) Karmazov 6-2-1992 3-3-1992 iii) Ricardo 5-2-1992 3-3-1992
44. The defendant has given details about the substantial expenditures which was incurred in the development and launching of the three brands in para 45 of the reply as follows:---
Press Pop Hoardings Misc. Mailer Total
(In lakhs)
1. London Lime 41.54 2.07 22.77 0.82 2.54 69.74
2. Ricardo 26.01 2.07 15.27 0.46 2.69 46.23
3. Karmazov 15.00 0.74 4.47 4.12 1.12 25.45
Total 141.42.
45. Shri Ashok Sen, the learned Senior Counsel for the defendant vehemently submitted that one who conceives, develops and adopts the trade mark/trade label is identified as the owner of the mark whether this is registered or not. In case of registered marks/labels., the holder is liable to answer for the breaches. In case of un-registered trade marks/trade labels, the title is to be proved by leading evidence in support and not merely by bare saying that the trade mark/label was devised, originated, developed, sponsored or floated in the market. It is an established principle of Law that unless and until the trade mark is used in business, the trade mark/trade label is worthless/useless being of no value. The defendant Company, devised developed and floated 3 labels concerned in the market for which the defendant Company has to incur expenses of Rs. 1 crore and 41 lakhs.
The name of the plaintiff company was shown in the labels when the original application for registration was made in the name of Standard Distilleries Ltd. The Karmazov Labels were initially launched in the name of Shaw Wallace alone and the name of the plaintiff Company did not figure. This is clear from the approval accorded by the State Excise Authorities in West Bengal and the State of Maharashtra. Similarly, in respect of "Karmazov-Vodka" 375 ml. at West Bengal Distillery, the name of Shaw Wallace alone continued to figure thereon while in case of "Karmazov Hodka 750 ml" the name of the plaintiff appeared. Some of the brands in particular "Karmazov" have borne Shaw Wallace LOGO. Thus, there was no common pattern of the use of the company's name in the labels. Therefore, the plaintiff cannot claim the ownership of the trade marks/labels mainly by reference to the use of the name of B. D. A. Breweries & Distilleries Limited or on account of the filing of the application for registration of the trade marks in the name of the said Company.
46. It is also the case of the plaintiff that on behalf of the plaintiff, the defendant Company has itself incurred expenses towards development and thereafter to market the labels in dispute. If the plaintiff Company is aggrieved because of the use by the defendant Company of the said trade marks/trade labels, the only recourse for the plaintiff company was to approach the State Excise Commissioner for the cancellation of the trade marks/labels, rather than the option adopted by filing the civil suits and applications for restraining the defendant Company from using the trade marks/trade labels. The plaintiff by way of amendment to the plaints improved the original story and alleged that there was an oral agreement to the effect that for the use of the trade marks/labels, the defendant Company agreed to pay royalty @ Rs. 150/- per case to the plaintiff Company.
47. The law in respect to the Trade Marks/Trade Labels is that a Trade Mark/Trade Label can be registered without transacting business and can float and transfer the same to anyone.
Chapter V. of the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 deals with the Assignment and Transmission. Section 37 of the said Act reads as under:
"Notwithstanding anything in any other law to the contrary, a registered trade mark shall, subject to the provisions of this chapter, be assignable and transmissible, whether with or without the good-will of the business concerned and in respect either of all the goods in respect of which the trade mark is registered or of some only of those goods".
The un-registered trade mark shall not be assignable or transmissible alongwith the good-will of the business concerned. It is, thus, clear that the trade mark/trade label is assignable or transmissible by three ways, i.e.
i) By legal operation;
ii) By inheritance and;
iii) Giving authority to the other party.
In the instant case, the plaintiff did not place any documents on record to show that there was an agreement to use the labels in question by the defendant company and consequently liable to pay royalty of Rs. 150/- per case. The plaintiff only pleaded about oral agreement which is specifically denied and specifically the defendant company claimed that the defendant company is a originator, developer and floater of the same in the market and is the owner of all the three concerned labels.
48. Shri Ashok Sen, the learned Senior Counsel for the defendant company vehemently submitted that the learned Counsel on behalf of the plaintiff made a mountain out of mole by saying that on behalf of the defendant company there are admissions or acknowledgments to the effect that the plaintiff company is the owner or the proprietor of the three trade marks/brands. According to Shri Ashok Sen, the learned Senior Counsel for the defendant mere admission or acknowledgment will not make a party the owner or proprietor. It has to be shown or established by evidence. In the instant case, the defendant company i.e. Shaw Wallace is the main and Standard Distillery and Maharashtra Distilleries Ltd. Aurangabad are the subsidiaries of the defendant company. When the admission is made by either of the subsidiaries, without any power or authority, it will not be used against the defendant company as admission. A reliance has been placed on a case of Ambika Prasad Thakur and others v. Ram Ekbal Rai (dead) by his legal representatives and others, A. I. R. 1966 Supreme Court 605. My attention has been attracted to para 13 of the Judgment in which Their Lordships observed that;
"The depositions of witnesses in other litigations do not carry the matter further. The deposition of defendant No. 11, Ram Dass Rai, in Suit No. 217 of 1911 is of weak evidentiary value. Though admissible against him as an admission it is not admissible against the other defendants. The other depositions relied upon do not satisfy the test of section 33 of the Indian Evidence Act and are not admissible in evidence.....................The Maharaja was interested in the success of the suit and it was necessary for him in his own interest to make this admission. The admission was made under some what suspicious circumstances at the end of the trial of the case when the arguments had begun. Though this petition was filed, the written statement of the Maharaja was never formally amended. In the circumstances this admission has weak evidentiary value".
49. Shri Ashok Sen, the learned Senior Counsel for the respondent contended that for passing off the plaintiff has to satisfy two ingredients i.e.
i) The plaintiff was the originator and developer of the trade mark; and
ii) he has adopted or adopted this trade mark in the course of trade.
No material document has been placed on record to show that the plaintiff Company is the proprietor, originator or developer of the trade marks. Merely filing of the applications for the registration of the trade marks in the name of the plaintiff would not confer on it the right of ownership or proprietorship in the trade marks/labels. Except mere expression of the plaintiff, there is absolutely no other reliable evidence in the form of any written agreement to show as to what working arrangement was deviced between these two companies, including also that the defendant company had formally agreed to pay royalty and also at any time as and when the demand was made on the defendant for such royalty by the plaintiff company.
50. The business goodwill is always treated as assets and, therefore, the Law protects the good-will against the encroacher to ensure that people's business reputations do not suffer injury. The essentials of passing off action are discussed by His Lordship in a case of Ellora Industries, Delhi v. Banarasi Dass Goela, as under:
"The purpose of tort of passing off is to protect commercial goodwill; to ensure that people's business reputations are not exploited. Since business "good-will is an asset, and therefore, species of property the law protects it against encroachment as such. The tort is based on economic policy, the need to encourage enterprise and to ensure commercial stability. It secures a reasonable area of monopoly to traders. It is, thus, complimentary to trade mark law which is founded upon statute rather than common law. But there is a difference between statute law relating to trade marks and the passing off action; for, while registration of relevant mark, itself gives title to the registered owner, the onus in a passing of action lies upon the plaintiff to establish the existence of the business reputation which he seeks to protect. The asset protected is the reputation, the plaintiff's business has in the relevant market. This is a complex thing. It is manifested in the various indicia which lead the client or customer to associate the business with the plaintiff; such as the name of the business, whether real or adopted the mark, design, make-up or colour of the plaintiff's goods, the distinctive characteristics of services he supplies or the nature of his special processes. And it is around encroachments upon such indicia that passing off actions arise. What is protected is an economic asset. The plaintiff must establish that his business or goods have acquire