Today, On 18th October, the Chief Justice of India declined to intervene in a trademark dispute concerning the movie Jigra, produced by Dharma Productions. The CJI remarked that since the film was already in the public domain, no immediate legal action was necessary. The case involves allegations of trademark infringement, but the court’s refusal to interfere suggests the matter may not escalate further.
New Delhi: Today, the Supreme Court heard trademark issue related to movie Jigra. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the use of the name “JIGRA” by film producers infringed upon his client’s trademark. The petitioner, who sells goods under the name “Jigra,” contends that the movie title violates his trademark rights.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra heard the petition.
Justice Pardiwala inquired whether Dharma Productions, the film’s producers, had obtained trademark registration for the name “Jigra.” In response, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Dharma Productions, highlighted that the film had been extensively promoted with posters for months, and a significant sum of Rs. 90 crores had already been invested in nationwide promotions. He emphasized that the petitioner is not involved in film production but runs an online teaching service.
Justice Pardiwala then asked,
“What does Jigra mean?”
To which Singhvi explained that the term refers to “someone with a strong and brave heart,” emphasizing its common usage.
Singhvi also argued that the petitioner previously made misleading statements to the lower court and filed the current case simply because his services are registered under the domains of education, training, and entertainment. Singhvi further pointed out that the petitioner was focusing on the entertainment category in an attempt to create confusion, despite having no involvement in the film industry.
Singhvi also questioned how a student attending online classes would confuse a film named “Jigra” with the petitioner’s service, “Jigra Education,” noting that the two entities operate in completely different sectors.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud interjected, stating that,
“The film is already in the public domain.”
He expressed the court’s reluctance to intervene, remarking,
“Sorry, we’re not going to intervene; we’ve already stated that the movie has been released.”
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As the hearing progressed, the petitioner’s counsel sought a resolution to the matter, but the court’s position was clear. The CJI reaffirmed that the movie’s release already occurred, thus making further legal action unnecessary at this point.
This case highlights the ongoing legal debates surrounding trademark law and intellectual property, particularly in instances where trademarks from different sectors such as education and entertainment come into conflict.