Passing off is a legal remedy designed to protect a trader's goodwill and prevent unfair competition by preventing others from misrepresenting their goods or services as those of another. In the case at hand, the Plaintiff and Defendant are both engaged in the business of cycle bells, with similar marks - BK for the Plaintiff and BK 81 for the Defendant. This article analyzes the nature and scope of passing off actions, as exemplified by the case before the Hon'ble Division Bench of the High Court of Delhi.

Goodwill as the Protected Interest:
Passing off actions primarily aim to safeguard a trader's property in their business goodwill. Goodwill is the valuable asset arising from the reputation and customer loyalty that a business has built over time. It represents the intangible value attached to a business and its products or services. The invasion of this goodwill through misrepresentation is the crux of passing off actions.

The False Suggestion and Reputation Damage:
In the case under consideration, the Defendant's use of the mark BK 81 alongside the Plaintiff's well-established BK mark created a false suggestion that their businesses were connected. This misrepresentation had the potential to damage the reputation and, consequently, the goodwill of the Plaintiff's business. Customers could be misled into believing that the Defendant's products were associated with the Plaintiff's, which could lead to confusion and loss of trust.

The Significance of house mark B.K.:
The Plaintiff's use of B.K. as their house name and in connection with their business is significant. These two letters had become associated with their products, serving as a symbol of the quality and reliability of their cycle bells. The fact that the Plaintiff had been in the manufacturing line since 1971 and had used the B.K. mark underscores its importance to their business.

Defendant's Claim of Adopting the Trademark:
The Defendant attempted to defend against the passing off action by claiming that they adopted the trademark BK from their mother's name. However, the Hon'ble Division Bench of the High Court rejected this argument. The court assessed the likelihood of injury to the Plaintiff's business and found that the Defendant's use of BK 81 was likely to cause confusion and harm the Plaintiff's goodwill.

The Concluding Note:
In this passing off action, the High Court of Delhi recognized the fundamental principle that passing off actions protect a trader's property in their business or goodwill. The false suggestion that the Defendant's business was connected to the Plaintiff's posed a genuine threat to the Plaintiff's reputation and goodwill. As a result, the court granted interim relief in the form of an injunction to prevent further harm to the Plaintiff's business. This case serves as a valuable illustration of the legal principles underlying passing off actions and the importance of safeguarding a trader's goodwill in the realm of business and commerce.

Case Law Discussed:
Case Title: B.K. Engineering Co. Vs Ubhi Enterprises and Anr.
Date of Judgement:12/11/1984
Case No. First Appeal No. 99 of 1984
Neutral Citation No:N.A.
Name of Hon'ble Court: High Court of Delhi
Name of Hon'ble Judge: A.B. Rohtagi and Gian Chand Jain , H J.

Disclaimer:
Information and discussion contained herein is being shared in the public Interest. The same should not be treated as substitute for expert advice as it is subject to my subjectivity and may contain human errors in perception, interpretation and presentation of the fact and issue involved herein.

Written By: Advocate Ajay Amitabh Suman, IP Adjutor - Patent and Trademark Attorney
Email: [email protected], Ph no: 9990389539