Delhi High Court Awards Rs 340 Crore to Lifestyle Equities in Trademark Battle Against Amazon
New Delhi: In a landmark ruling, the Delhi High Court has awarded Rs 340 crore in damages to Lifestyle Equities CV, concluding that Amazon infringed upon its trademark of the Beverly Hills Polo Club. The verdict, handed down by Justice Prathiba M. Singh, comes as a significant victory for the lifestyle brand after a long legal struggle that began in 2020.
Lifestyle Equities filed the suit against Amazon Technologies and related entities, alleging unauthorized utilization of the Beverly Hills Polo Club logo on various apparel sold on Amazon’s platforms. The complaint specifically identified Amazon Technologies for manufacturing and distributing products under the brand Symbol, which bore a striking resemblance to the registered trademark.
An interim injunction was issued by the High Court in October 2020, mandating the removal of infringing items from Amazon’s marketplace. However, Amazon Technologies failed to appear in the proceedings, and the case progressed in its absence.
In a twist to the legal saga, Cloudtail India, a seller on Amazon India, acknowledged its role in selling products under the disputed mark from 2015 until July 2020, generating a revenue of nearly Rs 24 lakh. Despite Cloudtail’s admission and proposals for a settlement, mediation efforts faltered, leading to the court recognizing both Cloudtail and Amazon’s culpability.
The Court ordered Cloudtail to pay Rs 4,78,484 in damages, representing 20% of the revenue from its infringing sales, while affirming that Lifestyle Equities had every right to claim damages from Amazon as well.
Represented by Senior Advocate Gaurav Pachnanda and a capable legal team, Lifestyle Equities’s significant victory underscores the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the digital marketplace. The detailed order from the court is highly anticipated as it could set crucial precedents for similar cases in the future.