trademark
Exporting Goods? New Madras HC Ruling on Infringement
The Madras High Court has issued a landmark ruling in the V.V.V. & Sons Idhayam case, settling whether exporting goods under a competitor's trademark constitutes infringement. The court held that the mere act of affixing a registered trademark to goods in India for export constitutes 'use' under the Trade Marks Act, regardless of whether the products are sold domestically. This decision rejects the argument that lack of Indian consumer exposure grants immunity. For Indian manufacturers, this means export-oriented production must now strictly comply with domestic trademark rights to avoid legal liability.