{"id":5067,"date":"2021-05-12T07:12:42","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T07:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/?p=5067"},"modified":"2021-05-12T07:17:22","modified_gmt":"2021-05-12T07:17:22","slug":"how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"How to File a Complaint Against Trademark Violation in India?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Nowadays, Trademark has become one of the simplest ways for customers to recognize the source and make the right decision. Trademark aids in recognition of brand value. Hence, it becomes essential for the Trademark proprietor to safeguard it from infringement\/violation or misuse by others. Scroll down to check more information regarding the Trademark violation in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3a8fe78d704\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3a8fe78d704\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/#What_is_the_Meaning_of_Trademark_Violation_in_India\" title=\"What is\nthe Meaning of Trademark Violation in India?\">What is\nthe Meaning of Trademark Violation in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/#What_are_the_Different_Types_of_Trademark_Violation_in_India\" title=\"What\nare the Different Types of Trademark Violation in India?\">What\nare the Different Types of Trademark Violation in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/#When_can_you_file_a_Trademark_Violation_Complaint\" title=\"When can you file a Trademark\nViolation Complaint?\">When can you file a Trademark\nViolation Complaint?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/#What_is_not_a_Trademark_Violation\" title=\"What is\nnot a Trademark Violation?\">What is\nnot a Trademark Violation?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/#What_can_you_do_if_any_Trademark_Violation_happens\" title=\"What\ncan you do if any Trademark Violation happens?\">What\ncan you do if any Trademark Violation happens?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/#What_are_the_Remedies_for_Trademark_Violation_in_India\" title=\"What\nare the Remedies for Trademark Violation in India?\">What\nare the Remedies for Trademark Violation in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/#Sending_a_Letter_before_taking_action_to_the_alleged_infringer\" title=\"Sending\na Letter before taking action to the alleged infringer\">Sending\na Letter before taking action to the alleged infringer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/#What_are_the_Penalties_under_Trademark_Violation_in_India\" title=\"What\nare the Penalties under Trademark Violation in India?\">What\nare the Penalties under Trademark Violation in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Meaning_of_Trademark_Violation_in_India\"><\/span>What is\nthe Meaning of Trademark Violation in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trade Marks Act, 1999 is the legislation that controls and regulates Trademarks in India. <strong>Trademarks Act, 1999<\/strong><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiacode.nic.in\/handle\/123456789\/1993?locale=en\" class=\"text-primary\"><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/sup>, delivers rules that deal with the registration, penalties, and protection against Trademark violation or infringement. Trademark is an essential intellectual property across the world. Several organizations seek to safeguard such intellectual property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\n<strong><em>IPO\n(Indian Patent Office)<\/em><\/strong>, regulated by the <strong><em>Controller General of Design,\nPatent, and Trademark<\/em><\/strong>, deals with Trademark protection in India.\nTrademark violation is a word used when there is any unofficial use of a mark\nthat looks similar or deceptively similar to an already registered Trademark.\nHere, the deceptively similar means that when a person looks at the mark and\ngets confused about the origin or the products or services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trademark infringement or violation is a punishable offence, and <a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/trademark-registration\" class=\"text-primary\"><strong>Trademark Registration<\/strong><\/a> permits the owner to sue or file a complaint against a Trademark violation in India. It is so because a Trademark confers ownership right over the use of a Trademark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Different_Types_of_Trademark_Violation_in_India\"><\/span>What\nare the Different Types of Trademark Violation in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two different types of Trademark Violation in India, and you can check the same below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"652\" height=\"209\" src=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-17.png\" alt=\"Different Types of Trademark Violation\" class=\"wp-image-5069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-17.png 652w, https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-17-300x96.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 652px) 100vw, 652px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Direct Violation<\/li><li>Indirect Violation<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>In\ndirect violation, a mark is used by an individual who is not allowed by the\nowner of a registered Trademark. Such use of Trademark should be recognized as\nthat of registered Trademark or deceptively similar to it for constituting\ndirect violation\/infringement. The unofficial or illegal use of the mark has to\nbe for the propagation of goods or service that comes under the similar class\nof registered Trademark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike direct violation, there is no such provision in the Trademarks Act that deals with the indirect violation. But, it doesn&#8217;t mean that there is no monopoly for indirect violation. Indirect violation is further categorized into two different types Contributory and Vicarious Violation\/Infringement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_can_you_file_a_Trademark_Violation_Complaint\"><\/span>When can you file a Trademark\nViolation Complaint?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Following are some cases\nwhere you may take action:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>When violation or infringement\nof your Trademark may confuse the customer&#8217;s mind;<\/li><li>When the registered Trademark\nis used packaging\/labelling without due approval;<\/li><li>When a business uses your marks\nin a similar of deceptively similar way;<\/li><li>When the registered Trademark\nis used in damaging, advertising, or is against the Trademark reputation;<\/li><li>When you registered Trademark\nis violated by an individual with an aim to take undue benefit of the repute of\nyour registered Trademark;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_not_a_Trademark_Violation\"><\/span>What is\nnot a Trademark Violation?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nthe closeness in images, words, etc., of the supposed violation, does not\ncreate any confusion to the ordinary buyers of products or goods, there is no\nviolation of the Trademark. A Trademark used by truthful practices of the\nindustry, not seeking to take any unfair benefit, also does not amount to\nTrademark violation in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_you_do_if_any_Trademark_Violation_happens\"><\/span>What\ncan you do if any Trademark Violation happens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In\ncase your registered Trademark has been violated by someone, then the Trademark\nowner may begin legal proceedings against the violator or infringer. It may be remembered\nthat a Trademark that is not registered can be infringed or violated, and the\nowner of a Trademark cannot bring violation proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nowner of a Trademark can commence a legally allowed proceeding against the\ninfringer. A criminal complaint can also be filed, and it may also be\nremembered that under the Trademarks Act, 1999, the offences are detectable, which\nmeans the police can register an FIR and sue offenders directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The jurisdiction to start the legal proceedings is also decided in line with the provisions imposed. Such a case can be filed in a court where the Trademark owner carries their business. <strong><em>Section 134 of the Trademarks Act<\/em><\/strong> defines the jurisdiction for filing suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Remedies_for_Trademark_Violation_in_India\"><\/span>What\nare the Remedies for Trademark Violation in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trademark owner can bring official proceedings against the infringer or violator. Following are two forms of remedies for violation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"634\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-18.png\" alt=\"Remedies for Trademark Violation\" class=\"wp-image-5071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-18.png 634w, https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-18-300x75.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong><em>Civil Remedy:<\/em><\/strong>\nSuch proceedings are commenced by the Trademark proprietor before the district\ncourt where the proprietor or owner lives. Civil remedies can be in the form of\nan order where an individual is stopped from doing a specific or task. It means\nabstaining an individual from illegal use of the mark. Civil proceedings can\nalso be in the form of harms where the loss because of violation is recovered.\nThe number of harms will be granted by the court once it considers the actual\nand the expected loss of the Trademark owner.<\/li><li><strong><em>Criminal Remedy:<\/em><\/strong>\nIn this remedy, a complaint can be filed against the violator or infringer. It\nshould be noted that both criminal and civil proceedings can be commenced\nsimultaneously. A criminal action can be attained by:<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Complaint before a Magistrate:\nTo commence prosecution under the penal provisions of the Trademarks Act, The\nTrademark owner can file a complaint prior to the magistrate and search for an\norder for investigation under the <strong><em>CrPc Section 156(3)<\/em><\/strong>. He may also\nmove an application under the same section.<\/li><li><strong><em>Compliant before the Police<\/em><\/strong>:\nThe process and provision for filing a complaint before the police are\nfurnished in <strong><em>Section 115(4) of the Act<\/em><\/strong>. The proposed official then looks for\nthe opinion of the Trademark Registrar and commences an action.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Another essential thing to remember before filing a complaint is that the applicant must prove that the registered Trademark has been infringed or violated. Hence, the responsibility to verify the infringement lies on the applicant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sending_a_Letter_before_taking_action_to_the_alleged_infringer\"><\/span>Sending\na Letter before taking action to the alleged infringer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;It is preferable to send a letter before\nstarting violation proceedings to the supposed infringer. It is a beneficial\noption and can address the violation or infringement problem without restoring\nto litigation proceedings of Trademark violation in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Such\na decision entirely based on the person situation. Following are some specified\nreasons why discontinue &amp; cease letter may be sent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Such a letter can create the\ninfringer to give up on their violating activities and stand by the demands of\nthe correct owner;<\/li><li>Such way of sending the letter\nindicates the readiness on the part of the owner to resolve the argument in a\nless conflicting manner;<\/li><li>It also makes the infringer or\nviolator aware of the fact that the right owners have come to know about the\nactivities of the infringer;<\/li><li>Declining a discontinuity and a\ncease letter presents an efficient ground for a restriction.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But, it may be remembered that one of the disadvantages of sending such a letter is that it delivers sufficient time to the infringer to demolish evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Penalties_under_Trademark_Violation_in_India\"><\/span>What\nare the Penalties under Trademark Violation in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>In\nthe case of civil charges, the court can order for:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Damages;<\/li><li>Destruction of goods;<\/li><li>Permanent injunction or a\ntemporary injunction;<\/li><li>Cost of legal proceedings;<\/li><li>Accounts of profits; it means\ndamages in the number of profits from such violation.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>In\nthe case of Criminal Proceedings:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Imprisonment for a time which\nis not less than six months and it can be extended to three years;<\/li><li>A fine not less than Rs.\n50,000\/- and can be extended to Rs. 2,00,000\/-.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A complete framework has been made to safeguard Trademarks. Hence, Trademarks are one of the most beneficial intellectual properties around the world. So, provisions have been made to safeguard it and file a complaint in case of Trademark violation in India. Both criminal &amp; civil remedies permit the Trademark to get compensated as well as imprison the person on Trademark violation in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/timeline-for-trademark-registration-process-in-india\/\">Timeline for Trademark Registration Process in India \u2013 Overview\n<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nowadays, Trademark has become one of the simplest ways for customers to recognize the source and make the right decision. Trademark aids in recognition of brand value. Hence, it becomes essential for the Trademark proprietor to safeguard it from infringement\/violation or misuse by others. Scroll down to check more information regarding the Trademark violation in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5078,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[72],"tags":[637],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5067"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5067"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5067\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5079,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5067\/revisions\/5079"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}