Calcutta High Court Sets Aside Injunction Against Godrej Consumer Products in Harpic Bottle Dispute

The Calcutta High Court has set aside an ad-interim injunction restraining Godrej Consumer Products from using its “Spic” toilet cleaner bottle in a trademark dispute with Reckitt Benckiser India, maker of Harpic.

A Division Bench of Justices Rajasekhar Mantha and Md Shabbar Rashidi held that the injunction was unwarranted at the interim stage.

The Court observed that the registered mark must be assessed as a whole and not merely by bottle shape, raising concerns about extending trademark protection to what may amount to an expired design monopoly.

The Bench directed completion of pleadings before the single-judge for a full hearing.

[Godrej v. Reckitt]