From Labels to Legitimacy: Necessities for Trademark Law in Protecting Food Brands

Ms. Arushi Johri; Dr. Manjusha

doi:10.53724/lrd/v9n1.5

Authors

Ms. Arushi Johri LLB Student, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Institute of Management and Research, New Delhi, (India) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6645-1013
Dr. Manjusha Assistant Professor, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Institute of Management and Research, New Delhi (India) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6645-1013

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53724/lrd/v9n1.5

Keywords:

Food industry, Trademark, Brands, E-commerce, Counterfeiting, Brand dilution

Abstract

The article examines the intricate relationship between the food industry in India and trademark laws. It is now more imperative than ever that Indian brands have a strong trademark protection as the food industry in the country intensifies its growth and has added new categories at an incredible pace. The challenges of online infringement, threats of genericization and copying, which threaten not only consumers’ safety and branding, but also brand images and identities themselves. Additionally, the article highlights future perspectives essential for safeguarding brand integrity in a competitive marketplace.

The Trademarks Act of 1999 serves as the foundation for trademark protection in India and is essential in facilitating food brands in conquering challenges such counterfeiting, genericization, and brand dilution. We advocate improved protection of trade dress that influences customers' perceptions of brands and can avoid market confusion. In order to mitigate these issues, it emphasizes the importance of increasing public awareness of trademarks and the risks associated with counterfeit products.

E-commerce platforms play an important role in our digital age. These platforms can mitigate trademark infringement and hold parties responsible by enforcing stringent takedown policies and vetting vendors. Furthermore, employing technology curb challenges posed in the food industry.

Finally, in order to effectively address unique challenges faced by the food industry, a thoughtful revision of the current trademark law is imperative to ensure trademark protection crucial for establishing customer confidence and guaranteeing the authenticity of food products, and this may be achieved by strengthening legal frameworks and promoting cooperation among industry stakeholders. In turn, this will help India's thriving food industry's producers and customers.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biography

Dr. Manjusha, Assistant Professor, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Institute of Management and Research, New Delhi (India)

Assistant Professor, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Institute of Management and Research, New Delhi (India)

References

Parker IP, “4 Reasons Why Trademark Registration is Important for Food Industries,” available at https://www.parkerip.com/blog/4-reasons-why-trademark-registration-is-important-for-food-industries/

The Trademarks Act, 1999

India Code, “The Trade Marks Act, 1999,” available at https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1993

Legal251, “Understanding the Legal Aspects of Food Licensing,” available at https://legal251.com/resources/understanding-the-legal-aspects-of-food-licensing/#:~:text=FSSAI%20plays%20an%20important%20role,specific%20hygiene%20and%20safety%20standards

United & United, “Crafting Identity: The Role of Food Shape Trademarks in Brand Protection,” available at https://www.unitedandunited.com/crafting-identity-the-role-of-food-shape-trademarks-in-brand-protection/

World Trademark Review, “Food Glorious Food: Cooking Trademark Rights in India,” available at https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/food-glorious-food-cooking-trademark-rights-in-india

Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Apr. 15, 1994, in the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1C (1994) (hereafter TRIPS)

“Trade Mark Restrictions under the TRIPS Agreement: The WTO Panel Findings on Australia’s Tobacco Plain Packaging Legislation,” available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342052559_Trade_Mark_Restrictions_under_the_TRIPS_Agreement_The_WTO_Panel_Findings_on_Australia's_Tobacco_Plain_Packaging_Legislation

Mondaq, “Food for Thought: IP Protection in the Indian Food Industry,” available at https://www.mondaq.com/india/trademark/1420582/food-for-thought-ip-protection-in-the-indian-food-industry

WIPO, “Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property,” available at https://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/paris/

The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, available at https://www.wipo.int/portal/en/index.html

WIPO, available at https://www.wipo.int/portal/en/index.html

IPTSE, “What is Geographical Indication in Intellectual Property,” available at https://iptse.com/what-is-geographical-indication-in-intellectual-property/#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20Basmati%20rice%20is,hill%20areas%20of%20West%20Bengal

Intellectual Property India, “History of Indian Patent System,” available at https://ipindia.gov.in/history-of-indian-patent-system.htm

Karnika Seth, “History and Evolution of Patents,” available at https://www.karnikaseth.com/wp-content/uploads/history-and-evolution-of-patents1.pdf

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, s. 2(1)(zb)

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, s. 18

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, s. 9

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, s. 11

Generis Online, “Navigating the Risks of Trademark Genericization and How to Prevent It,” available at https://generisonline.com/navigating-the-risks-of-trademark-genericization-and-how-to-prevent-it/

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, s. 29(4)

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, s. 29(2)(c)

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, s. 2(1)(e)

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, ss. 103, 104

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, s. 107

The Trade Marks Act, 1999, s. 11

Arpana Tyagi, “Viewing Trade Dress Protection from the Lens of Indian Legal Framework” 1 NLUA Journal of Intellectual Property Rights 1 (2024)

Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, notified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Gazette of India, 2020

Daimler Benz AG v. Hybo Hindustan, 1993 SCC OnLine Del 605

Cadbury India Limited & Ors. v. Neeraj Food Products, 2007 SCC OnLine Del 841

Cadila Health Care Ltd. v. Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., 2001 SCC OnLine SC 578

Cadbury India Limited & Ors. v. Neeraj Food Products, 2007 SCC OnLine Del 841

“Trade Dress Definition,” available at https://dictionary.thelaw.com/trade-dress/

ITC Ltd. v. Britannia Industries Ltd., 2016 SCC OnLine Del 5004

Zydus Wellness Products Limited v. Cipla Health Ltd. & Anr., 2023 SCC OnLine Del 3785

Colgate Palmolive Company & Anr. v. Anchor Health and Beauty Care Pvt. Ltd., 2003 SCC OnLine Del 1005

Sonalika Gupta and Malobika Bose, “The Intersection of Trademark Law and E-Commerce in India: A Study of Online Brand Protection” 10 IJARIIE 4599-4600 (2024).

Sonalika Gupta, & Ms. Malobika Bose, The Intersection of Trademark Law and E-Commerce in India: A Study of Online Brand Protection, Vol. 10, Issue 2, IJARIIE, 2024, pp. 4599-4600, ISSN(O)-2395-4396

Aakriti Jain and Ekta Gupta, “Analyzing the Efficacy of Trademark Enforcement Against Infringement of Trademarks in India” IV Indian Journal of Integrated Research in Law 134 (2024)

Other work cited:

Bone, R. G. (2006). Enforcement costs and trademark puzzles. Virginia Law Review, 92(8), 2099–2176. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.928379

McKenna, M. P. (2010). The normative foundations of trademark law. Notre Dame Law Review, 82(5), 1839–1900. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.885688

Desai, D. R., & Rierson, S. (2008). Confronting the genericism conundrum. Cardozo Law Review, 28(4), 1783–1835. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.891558

Beebe, B. (2004). The semiotic analysis of trademark law. UCLA Law Review, 51(3), 621–704. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.373680

Coombe, R. J. (1998). The cultural life of intellectual properties: Authorship, appropriation, and the law. Duke Law Journal, 41(2), 171–247. https://doi.org/10.1215/9780822381955

Kur, A., & Senftleben, M. (2017). European Trade Mark Law: A Commentary. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198738961.001.0001

Landes, W. M., & Posner, R. A. (1987). Trademark law: An economic perspective. Journal of Law and Economics, 30(2), 265–309. https://doi.org/10.1086/467138

Gangjee, D. (2012). Relocating the Law of Geographical Indications. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139031186

Griffiths, A. (2011). An Economic Perspective on Trade Mark Law. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849809588

Litman, J. (2000). The public domain. Emory Law Journal, 39(4), 965–1023. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1926340