Delhi HC rejects Volkswagen’s opposition to Maruti Suzuki trademark application

The Delhi High Court recently refused to entertain a petition filed by German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen challenging the dismissal of its opposition against registration of an allegedly similar mark filed by rival Maruti Suzuki India Limited. Maruti Suzuki had filed a trademark application before the Registrar of Trade Marks for registration of its mark ‘TRANSFORMOTION’. The Registrar accepted the application and advertised the application.

Volkswagen filed a notice of opposition against the registration of the mark, stating that it is deceptively similar to its registered trademark ‘4MOTION’.

The Registrar dismissed Volkswagen’s opposition, prompting Volkswagen to move the High Court in appeal. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora affirmed the decision passed by the Registrar, observing that the two marks have no deceptive similarity capable of confusing the public.