Mr. Sumit Vijay and Anr, proprietors using BLUE-JAY trademark since August 1998 for readymade garments in Class 25 with registration from 2004, faced cancellation petition CO (Comm IPD-TM) 279/2025 under Section 57 Trade Marks Act 1999 by Major League Baseball Properties Inc claiming BLUE JAYS mark for Toronto Blue Jays team merchandise since 1977 with trans-border reputation in India prior user bad faith adoption by appellants and deceptive similarity, leading to Single Judge allowing petition on 1 July 2025 finding trans-border goodwill bad faith and prior adoption despite no Indian registration or proven use. Appellants filed LPA 475/2025 arguing no evidence of respondent's Indian use or reputation before 1998 abandonment of applications no bad faith as mark unknown in India. Division Bench reasoned no material showed respondent's BLUE JAYS mark use or spillover reputation in India pre-1998 mere international fame websites magazines insufficient under Toyota Prius principles abandonment negated earlier mark status inconsistent adoption explanations inadequate for bad faith absent motive to copy obscure mark Single Judge conflated use with reputation and erred in findings. Appeal allowed quashing Single Judge judgment restoring appellants' registration.
- Trans-border reputation for passing off requires concrete evidence of goodwill spillover into India prior to defendant's adoption, not mere global fame or accessible websites/magazines: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha v. Prius Auto Industries Ltd., (2018) 2 SCC 1, Para 12.8.9; Milmet Oftho Industries v. Allergan Inc., (2004) 12 SCC 624, Para 12.8.8.
- Bad faith under Section 11(10)(ii) Trade Marks Act 1999 necessitates intent to unfairly capitalize on or damage another's reputation, not inferred from minor explanatory inconsistencies without proven awareness or motive: Harrison v. Teton Valley Trading Co. Ltd., [2004] EWCA Civ 1028, Para 59; BPI Sports LLC v. Vinayak Aggarwal, 2023 SCC OnLine Del 5802, Para 26.
- Abandoned trademark applications do not confer "earlier trade mark" status or exclusivity, precluding monopoly claims over relinquished marks: Para 65.
- Cancellation under Section 57 requires entry contrary to Act provisions like Section 11(3)(a), but absent Indian use/goodwill, international priority insufficient: Para 33.
Mr. Sumit Vijay Vs Major League Baseball Properties Inc. & Anr., Order date: 5 January 2026, Case Number: LPA 475/2025, CM APPLs. 45526/2025 & 45579/2025, Neutral Citation: N/A, Name of court: High Court of Delhi at New Delhi, Name of Judge: Hon'ble Mr. Justice C. Hari Shankar and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Om Prakash Shukla.
[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]
