As a setback to yoga guru and businessman Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda, the Madras High Court on Thursday ruled against the company in connection to cases regarding the trademark 'Coronil'. The court confirmed the injunction earlier imposed on Patanjali from using the trademark and slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakh for “chasing further profits by exploiting the fear and panic among the general public by projecting a cure for the coronavirus.”
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The court had passed an interim junction last month in favor of Chennai-based Arudra Engineering Private Limited, which alleged that it had registered 'CORONIL-92 B' as per the Trademark rules, as an acid inhibitor product for industrial use. Despite having registered this in June 1993, the company stated that Patanjali had adopted the name for its ‘immunity booster’ in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Arudra, however, reportedly has a right over the trademark till 2027.
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"The defendants have invited this litigation on themselves. A simple check with the Trademarks Registry would have revealed that 'Coronil' is a registered trademark. If they had, and had still, with audacity used the name 'Coronil', then they deserve no consideration at all. They cannot assume they can bulldoze their way and infringe on a registered trademark. They must realize there is no equity in trade and commerce. If they had not done a check with the Registry, then they are at fault. They cannot plead ignorance and innocence and seek indulgence from this Court. Either way, indulgence is refused," Justice Karthikeyan stated. The court also mentioned the previous scuffle where Coronil was presented as a 'cure' for COVID-19 till the Centre intervened in the matter.