Supreme Court Allows Cognizant to Use Hexagonal Logo Amidst Trademark Dispute with Atyati

Supreme Court Allows Cognizant to Use Hexagonal Logo Amidst Trademark Dispute with Atyati

Introduction

The Supreme Court has granted relief to Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, allowing it to continue using its hexagonal logo in India amidst an ongoing trademark dispute with Atyati Technologies Private Limited.

Factual Background

Atyati Technologies Private Limited, a Bengaluru-based fintech company, filed a commercial intellectual property suit against Cognizant, alleging that its blue hexagonal logo was deceptively similar to Atyati's orange honeycomb logo, which it has used since 2019.

Procedural Background

Atyati obtained an ex-parte injunction from a single judge of the Bombay High Court in March 2024, temporarily barring Cognizant from using the mark. However, the single judge later lifted the injunction on June 13, 2024, accepting Cognizant's argument that Atyati had secured the injunction by concealing facts. A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V. Marne restored the injunction in August 2024, which was later challenged by Cognizant in the Supreme Court.

Issues

• The main issue in this case is whether Cognizant's hexagonal logo infringes on Atyati's trademark rights.
• The Supreme Court also examined whether Atyati had suppressed material facts in obtaining the ex-parte injunction.

Contentions of the Parties

Cognizant: Cognizant argued that Atyati had known of its logo since 2022 but stated in its pleadings that it discovered the mark only in October 2023, showing suppression of material facts.

Atyati: Atyati contended that Cognizant's logo was deceptively similar to its own logo and that it had not suppressed any facts.

Reasoning and Analysis

The Supreme Court held that the division bench of the Bombay High Court erred in overturning the single judge's decision that permitted Cognizant to use the mark during the pendency of the case. The apex court directed the single judge to decide the injunction application on merits within six months.

Implications

The Supreme Court's decision allows Cognizant to continue using its hexagonal logo in India until the logo is resolved. This decision may have implications for other trademark disputes involving tech companies.

Relief Sought

Cognizant sought to continue using its hexagonal logo in India without any restrictions. The Supreme Court has granted this relief, allowing Cognizant to use the logo until the single judge decides the injunction application on merits.