Reliance Industries Wins Trademark Battle Over Vimal Brand
Gujarat High Court Bars Ludhiana Firm from Using ‘Vimal’ Name on Apparel
In a key legal victory for Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the Gujarat High Court has barred Ludhiana-based Jaipal Gaba and his firm Mack Hosiery from using the ‘Vimal’ trademark, reaffirming RIL’s exclusive rights to the iconic brand.
The decision upholds a prior order by the Commercial Court in Ahmedabad, which restrained Gaba and Mack Hosiery from selling apparel under the names ‘Vimal,’ ‘Vimal Jonney,’ and ‘Mack Vimal.’ The ruling came in response to a trademark infringement suit filed by RIL in 2021.
RIL argued that it has owned and used the ‘Vimal’ trademark since 1967, registered under Class 24 (textiles and textile goods), and has invested significantly in building its brand, including endorsements by celebrities from film and cricket. The company highlighted that Gaba’s firm was selling similar products—such as T-shirts and ready-made garments—under the ‘Vimal’ name through online platforms and even misused the ‘Reliance’ name.
Gaba, in his defense, cited a separate registration under Class 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear) by Milap Hosiery, dating back to 1976, and claimed usage rights through an assignment deed from 1986. He also pointed to additional registrations between 2016 and 2018 under names like ‘Vmark,’ ‘Vimal Jonney,’ and ‘Mack Vimal.’
However, the court observed that both parties’ products, though under different trademark classes, are sold in similar retail environments and are associated in the minds of consumers. It emphasized RIL’s longstanding brand recognition and wider market reach, establishing it as the prior user of the ‘Vimal’ mark.
Finding the defendant’s use of the marks deceptive and misleading, the court ruled that RIL had made a prima facie case under Section 135 read with Section 27(2) of the Trademarks Act, validating its claim of passing off.
With this verdict, RIL strengthens its legal protection over the ‘Vimal’ brand, reinforcing its legacy and market dominance in the textile and apparel sector.
