Supreme Court Rejects Pernod Ricard’s Trademark Claim over “London Pride” Whisky

The Supreme Court upheld the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s refusal to grant an interim injunction against the whisky brand London Pride. 

Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan ruled that Pernod Ricard, owner of Blenders Pride, cannot claim exclusive rights over the generic, laudatory term Pride without a separate registration. 

The Court noted significant visual and structural differences between the products and the absence of evidence of consumer confusion. 

Citing that premium whisky buyers are discerning, it held that Pride is publici juris (of public right) in the liquor industry. Claims over trademark and damages will be decided at trial.

(Pernod Ricard v Karanveer Singh Chhabra)