Delhi High Court orders Parle to modify ads

Delhi High Court orders Parle to modify ads

The Indian multinational food processing company has been given two weeks to follow the directive

The Delhi High Court has directed Parle Biscuits Private Limited to modify its advertisements by blurring the images of the cookies similar to Good Day biscuits manufactured by Britannia Industries Private Limited.

The single-judge Justice Prathiba M Singh instructed Parle to ensure not to use the image of any cookies that resembled Good Day biscuits in any form, as it was violative of Britannia's registered design. Also, from May 1, the ads should not be visible on any online platform.

The court stated, "The defendants shall ensure that within two weeks from now, the impugned advertisement No.2 and advertisement No.3 shall be modified with the blurred image of the cookie and the currently used cookie image would be no longer visible in the said advertisements on any online platforms from 1 May 2022, onwards."

The court was dealing with a suit filed by Britannia seeking a permanent injunction and damages against Parle for disparagement and infringement of its design of the Good Day range of cookies. Its complaint was related to three advertisements used by Parle to promote its cookies Parle 20-20.

In March, Parle had agreed to change the design of the packaging and the cookies in one of its ads. But the plaintiffs pointed out that in the two remaining ads there was no issue of packaging but the design of the cookies was similar.

Appearing for Parle, the counsel said that they were ready to blur the image of the cookies.

While advocates Sagar Chandra, Ishani Chandra, Shubhie Wahi, Sanya Kapoor and legal officer Omar Waziri appeared for Britannia, advocates NK Bhardwaj and Bikash Ghorai and Associate Senior Manager Vrushal Uttarde represented Parle.