Delhi High Court Cracks Down On Look-Alike Polo Logos, Shields Beverly Hills Polo Club Brand

Delhi High Court Cracks Down On Look-Alike Polo Logos, Shields Beverly Hills Polo Club Brand

Introduction

The Delhi High Court has granted ex parte ad-interim relief in favour of Lifestyle Equities C.V., the owner of the globally recognised Beverly Hills Polo Club (BHPC) brand, restraining a Mumbai-based apparel business from using polo player logos found to be deceptively similar to the iconic BHPC device mark.

Factual Background

Lifestyle Equities C.V. is the proprietor of the Beverly Hills Polo Club brand, established in 1982, and has been selling apparel and lifestyle products in India since 2007 through authorised partners. The plaintiff owns multiple trademark registrations in India, including registrations for the distinctive polo player device, which constitutes the core visual identity of the brand.

Vivaan Enterprise, operating under the brand name “Bombay Vogue,” is a Mumbai-based clothing business engaged in the sale of men’s and women’s apparel through its website bombayvogue.in and associated social media accounts.

Procedural Background

Upon discovering that the defendant was using polo player logos on its clothing and online listings, Lifestyle Equities issued cease-and-desist notices. Although certain listings were temporarily taken down, they allegedly resurfaced in November 2025.

Lifestyle Equities thereafter instituted a commercial trademark infringement and passing-off suit before the Delhi High Court and sought urgent interim relief restraining the continued use of the impugned logos. The matter came up before Justice Tejas Karia, who considered the plaintiff’s plea at the ad-interim stage, without issuing notice to the defendant.

Issues

1. Whether the polo player logos used by Vivaan Enterprise were deceptively similar to the registered BHPC device mark.

2. Whether such use, in relation to identical apparel products and through identical online trade channels, was likely to cause consumer confusion.

3. Whether the plaintiff had made out a case for grant of ex parte ad-interim injunction.

Contentions of the Parties

The plaintiff contended that the defendant had deliberately adopted polo player logos that were visually and conceptually identical to the BHPC mark, with the intention of riding on its reputation and goodwill. It was argued that the use of such logos on identical apparel products sold online created a high likelihood of consumer confusion and dilution of the plaintiff’s well-known trademark. At this stage, no submissions were made on behalf of the defendant, as the order was passed ex parte.

Reasoning and Analysis

After comparing the competing logos, the Court found that the defendant’s polo player devices were prima facie identical in concept, structure and overall visual impression to the BHPC mark. The Court noted that both parties were selling the same category of goods apparel through the same online platforms, targeting the same class of consumers.

The Court observed that the adoption of the impugned logos appeared dishonest and calculated to take unfair advantage of the strong reputation and goodwill associated with the Beverly Hills Polo Club brand. It held that continued use of such logos was likely to mislead consumers into believing an association with the plaintiff. Emphasising that delay in granting relief could cause irreparable harm to the plaintiff’s brand equity, the Court found the balance of convenience to be clearly in favour of Lifestyle Equities.

Decision

The Delhi High Court granted an ex parte ad-interim injunction, restraining the defendant from manufacturing, selling, advertising or dealing in any apparel bearing the impugned polo player logos or any other deceptively similar marks. The Court also directed removal of all such listings from the bombayvogue.in website and associated Instagram and Facebook pages. The interim restraint will remain in force until March 23, 2026, the next date of hearing.

In this case the plaintiff was represented by Mr. Mohit Goel, Mr. Sidhant Goel, Mr. Abhishek Kotnala and Mr. Kartikeya Tandon, Advocates.