In a historic verdict, the Delhi High Court has fined Amazon Rs 340 crore in a trademark infringement case brought by Lifestyle Equities, the proprietors of the "Beverly Hills Polo Club" (BHPC) brand. Delivered on Wednesday, this ruling stands out as one of the heftiest penalties levied against an American firm in an Indian intellectual property case, reverberating across the e-commerce and legal sectors.
The controversy started in 2020 when it was said that Amazon.in, the company's Indian platform, sold clothing under the "Symbol" label that showed a striking resemblance to the trademarked horse symbol of BHPC. Lifestyle Equities argued that their luxury brand was damaged by these cheap copies, which also confused consumers. In the ruling, Justice Prathiba M. Singh criticized Amazon for its "intentional and calculated infringement" and criticized the business for evading accountability by alternating between its functions as a marketplace host, seller, and brand creator.
Similar accusations were made against Amazon by Lifestyle Equities in London in 2019. Amazon lost an appeal against the ruling last year that found it had violated UK trademarks by targeting British customers on its US website.
Although Amazon representatives in the US and India have not yet commented on the ruling, the company has denied the accusations. Now that the Indian ruling's implementation depends on U.S. court permission, the corporation faces the challenge of enforcement, which could start a global legal battle.
This decision casts a spotlight on accountability in India’s fast-growing e-commerce arena,and might impact how foreign companies handle trademark protection. All eyes are on Amazon's reaction to this significant legal setback as the aftermath settles.
