trademark
Allied and Cognate Goods in Trademark Infringement
In Indian trademark law, class boundaries are often secondary to the actual commercial connection between products. The doctrine of allied and cognate goods allows brand owners to challenge infringements even when items fall into different Nice classes. From the landmark Corn Products case to the recent GODFATHER decision, courts focus on trade channels, consumer overlap, and product usage to determine risk. This article explores how courts apply the anti-dissection rule and multi-factor tests to protect brand equity, providing a roadmap for practitioners managing cross-class trademark conflicts.