Delhi High Court Grants Permanent Injunction To Tata Power Solar, Restrains Trademark-Infringing Domain Names

Delhi High Court Grants Permanent Injunction To Tata Power Solar, Restrains Trademark-Infringing Domain Names

The Delhi High Court has issued a permanent injunction in favor of Tata Power Solar Systems Limited, restraining several domain name registrants from misusing its trademark for deceptive online activities.

The company had filed a lawsuit against multiple domain names that unlawfully incorporated its trademark, misleading customers and violating its intellectual property rights. The contested domains included tatapowersolardealership.co.in, tatapowersolars.com, tatapowersolars.org, and tatapowersolarroof.com. Tata Power Solar argued that these fraudulent domain names posed a serious risk to its brand reputation and consumer trust.

Established in 1989, Tata Power Solar has used the "TATA POWER SOLAR" brand since February 2020, building a strong reputation in the renewable energy sector. The company highlighted that its market standing had been reinforced by multiple awards and recognitions for innovation. For the fiscal year 2023–2024, Tata Power Solar reported a turnover of approximately ₹1,907 crores, with advertising expenditures reaching ₹23 crores. The lawsuit alleged that the defendants had fraudulently registered these domain names and used them to mislead customers by incorporating the company's trademark in emails, domain registrations, and business communications. It was further claimed that the defendants contacted potential customers through WhatsApp and phone calls, falsely offering dealership opportunities and collecting large sums of money under fraudulent pretenses.

The Delhi High Court had earlier granted an ex-parte ad interim injunction on May 20, 2024, preventing the defendants from using the disputed trademarks. Upon further review, Justice Amit Bansal found that the accused had not presented a defense or filed a written statement, making them liable for summary judgment. Observing the deliberate attempt to replicate Tata Power Solar’s brand, the Court noted that the unauthorized use of the company's trademark misled customers and unfairly capitalized on its goodwill. Justice Bansal stated that the plaintiffs were entitled to a summary judgment and that ordering them to lead ex-parte evidence would serve no additional purpose.

In its final judgment, the Court permanently restrained the defendants from using Tata Power Solar’s trademarks in any manner.