Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. Vs. www.xiaomi-india.xyz

Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited, Indian arm of Chinese multinational with trademarks XIAOMI, MI, REDMI, POCO since 2010 and billions in sales, along with Super Cassettes Industries Pvt Ltd, filed 2019 suit against unknown defendants for trademark infringement, passing off, and dilution via fraudulent domains like xiaomi-india.xyz copying their websites, logos, content to scam public for jobs, dealerships, payments into unrelated accounts. As batch matter on domain-based cyber frauds, proceedings 2019-2025 involved ex-parte injunctions in December 2019 suspending domains and extended, impleading DNRs like GoDaddy, registries Verisign, entities ICANN, MeitY, DoT, MHA, RBI, NPCI, IBA, NIXI, Delhi Police; multiple hearings with affidavits, status reports on investigations including FIRs/chargesheets, CEIB SOPs May 2024 for bank-LEA aid, RBI December 2024 mandating beneficiary name lookup, grievance officer appointments, stakeholder meetings; reserved May 31, 2025. Court reasoned domain names as online business essence require safeguards against goodwill erosion and deception; analyzed ICANN ecosystem duties on DNRs/registries for verification, abuse prevention, disclosure, order adherence; identified lapses in KYC, default privacy enabling anonymity/fraud, intermediary diligence failures risking IT Act s.79 safe harbour, privacy balanced with rights under DPDP Act; stressed dynamic/dynamic+ injunctions for rogue sites, non-compliance justifying IT Act s.69A blocks for public order disruptions from mass frauds; addressed payment mismatches, LEA cooperation. Issued directions to DNRs/registries for opt-in privacy, 72-hour disclosures, permanent blocks, no alternatives for well-known marks, India grievance officers, e-KYC, TMCH, monthly data to NIXI; government for NIXI-like framework, nodal repository, TMCH enablement, well-known marks/websites list; dynamic+ criteria for variations; banks for name lookup/SOP compliance; granted summary adjudication under Order XIII-A CPC/IPD Rules r.27 with permanent/dynamic+ injunction restraining use/passing off, mandatory permanent blocks/takedowns by registries/DNRs/DoT/MeitY/ISPs/social media/search engines, domain transfers to plaintiffs on fees, full disclosures, no damages as not claimed, disposed pending IAs including impleadment.

- Domain Name Registrars (DNRs) and Registry Operators are obligated under ICANN agreements to verify registrant details, investigate inaccuracies/abuse, provide WHOIS/RDDS access, comply with court orders, and prevent registrations violating third-party rights, with failure risking termination or safe harbour loss under IT Act s.79: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Paras 261-262, 272.

- Privacy protect shall not be default/opt-out; offered only on opt-in as paid value-added service separate from registration package: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(i).

- DNRs must disclose specified registrant/admin/tech/payment/hosting details to legitimate interests/LEAs/courts within 72 hours under Intermediary Guidelines 2021: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(ii).

- Infringing domains adjudged illegitimate shall be permanently blocked by registries/DNRs, not re-registered or pooled: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(iii).

- For well-known/invented marks with reputation in India, injunctions bar alternative domains/extensions/mirrors/alphanumerics: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(iv).

- DNRs shall not promote/suggest alternatives to injuncted domains, else lose safe harbour: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(v).

- For descriptive/generic marks, injunctions specific but extendable via Joint Registrar intervention: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(vi).

- Injuncted domains transferable to TM owner on usual charges: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(vii).

- No promotion/optimization services by search engines/DNRs to infringing domains: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(viii).

- All DNRs in India to appoint local Grievance Officers within one month, publish contacts: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(ix).

- Email service on Grievance Officer sufficient; insistence on MLAT/other modes deems non-compliant: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(x).

- Courts may direct MeitY/DoT to block non-compliant DNRs/services under IT Act s.69A for public order: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Paras 283(A)(xi), (B)(c).

- Registries to implement Trademark Clearinghouse for all brands: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(xii).

- DNRs in India to verify registrant details via e-KYC per CERT-In circular, periodically: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(xiii).

- DNRs under NIXI to provide registration data monthly: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(A)(xiv).

- Government to consult on NIXI-like framework, nominate nodal data repository, enable TMCH, publish well-known marks/websites list: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(B), (xvi).

- Dynamic+ injunction applies to exact marks, prefix/suffix/alphanumeric variations; legitimate registrants may seek court order: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(C)(xvii).

- Banks to mandatorily implement Beneficiary Name Lookup per RBI circular and abide by CEIB SOP for LEAs: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. v. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors., CS(COMM) 700/2019 (High Court of Delhi, December 24, 2025), Para 283(D).

Case Title: Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited & Anr. Vs. www.xiaomi-india.xyz & Ors.  

Order date: 24th December, 2025  

Case Number: CS (COMM) 700/2019 & I.A. 17945/2019  

Neutral Citation: N/A  

Name of court: High Court of Delhi at New Delhi  

Name of Judge: Justice Prathiba M. Singh  

[Readers are advised not to treat this as substitute for legal advise as it may contain errors in perception, interpretation, and presentation]  

[Written By: Advocate Ajay Amitabh Suman, IP Adjutor [Patent and Trademark Attorney], High Court of Delhi]