Madras High Court Grants Interim Relief to Ravi Mohan Studios, Allows Use of 'BROCODE' as Film Title

Madras High Court Grants Interim Relief to Ravi Mohan Studios, Allows Use of 'BROCODE' as Film Title

Introduction

The Madras High Court has granted interim relief to Ravi Mohan Studios, allowing them to use the title "BROCODE" for their upcoming movie despite a trademark infringement threat from Indo Bevs Pvt Ltd, an alcoholic beverage company.

Factual Background

Ravi Mohan Studios planned to release a movie titled "BROCODE" and had already promoted it on various platforms. However, Indo Bevs Pvt Ltd claimed trademark rights, having applied for copyright registration for the term "BROCODE", and objected to the film's title.

Issues

1. Whether Ravi Mohan Studios can use the title "BROCODE" for their movie without infringing on Indo Bevs Pvt Ltd's trademark rights?
2. Whether the court should grant interim relief to Ravi Mohan Studios?

Contentions of the Parties

Plaintiff's Contentions: Ravi Mohan Studios argued that they had already promoted the movie and that the defendant's trademark application was pending with objections.

Defendant's Contentions: Indo Bevs Pvt Ltd claimed trademark rights and objected to the use of "BROCODE" for the movie.

Reasoning and Analysis

The bench of Justice V Lakshminarayanan found prima facie in favor of Ravi Mohan Studios, noting that the defendant's trademark application was pending with objections and that the plaintiff had already invested in promoting the movie. The court granted interim relief, allowing the movie to proceed with the title "BROCODE" without interference.

Decision

The Madras High Court granted an interim injunction in favor of Ravi Mohan Studios, allowing them to use the title "BROCODE" for their movie for a period of three weeks, subject to serving notice to the defendant.

Implications

The judgment provides temporary relief to Ravi Mohan Studios, enabling them to proceed with their movie project without immediate disruption. The court's decision highlights the importance of considering prior use and promotional efforts in trademark disputes.