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Secondly, in his counter-claim, the appellant had
clearly pleaded that the name "The Only Place", was coined
by his father, was used by his father for running a
restaurant. His father's restaurant, "The Only Place" had
earned a tremendous goodwill in Bangalore. For, the
restaurant was well known for serving Western food.
Therefore, the goodwill of the unregistered trade mark " The
Only Place" belonged to his father.
Thirdly, when the appellant and the respondent
created the partnership firm "M/s. Aaaminah Steak & Pasta
Company", the appellant's father permitted the partnership
firm the use of the unregistered trade mark "The Only Place"
for a consideration paid by the Firm. Thus, the unregistered
trade mark "The Only Place" was not brought into the
partnership firm as a property of the partnership. The said
unregistered trade mark continued to be the property of the
appellant's father.
Fourthly, with the demise of the appellant's father, the
goodwill of "The Only Place" became part of his father's
estate. Therefore, the goodwill devolved down to the
appellant and his two sisters. Moreover, relying on Section
2 (zc) read with Section 39 of the Trade marks Act, 1999
("the Act", for short), the learned counsel has pleaded that an
unregistered trade mark may be assigned or transmitted
with, or without the goodwill of the business concerned.
Furthermore, a transmission may be "by operation of law,
devolution on the personal representation of the deceased
person, and by any other mode of transfer, but not being an
assignment". Thus, as the personal representative of his late
father, the appellant is justified in claiming that the goodwill
of the unregistered trade mark, "The Only Place" has been
transmitted to him with the death of his father.
Fifthly, on 21.01.2010, the appellant, and his two
sisters entered into a Family Settlement which was reduced
into writing. According to the Family Settlement, the goodwill
of "The Only Place", was to belong to the appellant.
Therefore, the appellant has the exclusive right to use the
name "The Only Place". Hence, the respondent did not have
the right to use the unregistered trade mark "The Only
Place", and to run his restaurant in the name and style of
"The Only Place". Moreover, since the unregistered trade
mark did not belong to the partnership, after the dissolution
of the partnership firm, the unregistered trade mark could
not be used by the respondent.
9
Sixthly, since the unregistered trade mark belongs to
the appellant, the balance of convenience is in his favour.
Moreover, after the dissolution of the firm, the appellant has
also started a restaurant using the name "The Only Place" in
another part of the city. If the respondent were permitted to
continue to use the unregistered trade mark, "The Only
Place", it would cause irreparable loss to the appellant.
Therefore, the appellant had succeeded in proving all the
three essential ingredients for being granted a temporary
injunction in his favour. However, still the learned Judge
has dismissed his application for temporary injunction.