Delhi High Court orders take down of website, app, WhatsApp accounts cheating people using IKEA trademark

The Delhi High Court recently ordered the taking down of websites, mobile applications and WhatsApp accounts, groups and phone numbers being used to cheat people by misusing the trademark of Swedish conglomerate IKEA [Inter IKEA Systems BV v John Deo And Ors]..In an order passed on March 12, Justice Sanjeev Narula also restrained these unknown (John Doe) people from using the IKEA trademark for their domain names, websites, mobile applications or any social media handle in any manner.“Defendants No. 1 and 2 (people cheating common people in the name of IKEA), and all persons acting on their behalf, are restrained from using the Plaintiff’s registered “IKEA”/ trademarks and/ or their variations, as a part of their domain names, websites, mobile applications, social media handle names/ profiles credentials/ description, promotional/ business activities on digital or print media, bank accounts and/ or any business papers etc. in any manner, that would amount to infringement and passing off of Plaintiff’s registered “IKEA”/trademarks,” the Court ordered.The Bench further sought details of the people operating the websites, to be submitted in a sealed cover..IKEA had moved the High Court stating that unknown people were using its name and trademark to dupe people and that common people are losing significant amounts of money as a result.It was argued that the mobile application, website and WhatsApp groups and accounts are being used to mislead people into investing significant sums of money on the pretext of securing a steady income from IKEA. The imitation sites and apps were being used as money-making platforms, guaranteeing returns up to 200% of the invested amount within 35 days..After considering the case, the Court concluded that prima facie, the defendants have infringed IKEA’s trademark, to the detriment of the company’s goodwill and standing in the market.It, therefore, passed the interim order..Advocates Tanya Varma, Aiswarya Debadarshini, Rohan Krishna Seth and Srinivas Venkat appeared for IKEA.Central Government Standing Counsel Nidhi Raman along with Advocates Zubin Singh and Rishav Dubey appeared for the Union of India..[Read Order]