Bombay High Court Lifts Restraint On UP-Based Popcorn Maize Seller In Brand Dispute With SNN

The Bombay High Court at Nagpur has recently set aside a District Court order restraining SNT & Co., a UP-based popcorn maize seller, from using its brand name and packaging, after finding that the court failed to properly compare the overall look and feel of its packaging with that of Shah Nanji Nagis Exports Pvt. Ltd. (SNN), which had accused SNT of copying its design.In an order passed on November 3, a single bench of Justice Rohit W Joshi lifted an earlier interim injunction and sent the case back to the District Judge for a fresh hearing. The dispute dates back to 2024 when SNN, a Nagpur-based exporter of pulses, grains, and corn, claimed exclusive rights over its “SNN” trademark and its trade dress. In June 2025, the District Court had issued a temporary injunction preventing SNT & Co. from using the “SNT” mark for its popcorn maize.SNT & Co. had argued that its packaging, logo, and color scheme were visually distinct from SNN's. After reviewing both packages and the evidence on record, the court held that the lower court's reasoning was incomplete and that it had failed to properly apply its mind.It observed that while deceptive similarity must be judged from the perspective of an ordinary consumer, it still requires a careful comparison of the marks and trade dress."The Court must sit in the armchair of the end consumer to decide as to whether there is any likelihood or confusion in the mind of the consumers." the court said. “It is true that while deciding as to whether two trade dresses/packets are deceptively similar or not, a Court must look at the packet/trade dress as a whole and should not give undue importance to certain distinguishing factors in the two trade dresses/packets. However, the distinctive features should be discussed in order to decide as to whether the two packets/trade dresses, viewed as a whole, would cause confusion in the mind of end consumers or not.”, it added. It observed that SNN's packet had a simple design with plain colour bands whereas SNT's packaging prominently featured popcorn images, a different font and varied colour patterns which makes the two products visually distinguishable. Consequently, It set aside the injunction and sent the matter back to the District Court for a fresh hearing. Case Title: SNT and Company v. M/S Shah Nanji Nagis Exports Pvt. Ltd. Case Nunber: AO 11/2025 For the Appellant: Advocate YB Sharma For the Respondent: Advocate SS DewaniClick Here To Read/Download The Order

Bombay High Court Lifts Restraint On UP-Based Popcorn Maize Seller In Brand Dispute With SNN

Ayushi Shukla

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