The Delhi High Court has restrained a Kerala based furniture store “Ikea Luxury Furniture” from using the mark “Ikea” either as a trademark or trade name on hoardings, including stationery, banners, handbills, and promotional materials.

Justice Prathiba M Singh was dealing with a trademark infringement suit filed by multinational furniture company, Inter IKEA Systems BV. It sought protection of its mark ‘IKEA’.

Ikea alleged that the defendant furniture store was using the mark ‘IKEA’ in respect of various furniture items as also on inside hoardings in the shop and boxes of the products.

“It is clear from the reading of pleadings and documents that the mark/name ‘IKEA’ is an extremely well-known mark. The mark belongs to the Plaintiff, which is a Swedish company. It is clear that the Plaintiff’s ‘IKEA’ mark and name deserves to be protected,” the court observed.

Considering that the defendant was using the mark for identical goods and products range and targeted the same consumer segment, the court observed that it is a fit case for grant of an ex-parte ad- interim injunction in favour of Ikea.

“Despite the legal notice being communicated, the Defendant has failed to stop use of the mark ‘IKEA’. Accordingly, the Defendant shall stand restrained from using the mark/name ‘IKEA’ or any other mark or name which is deceptively similar to the Plaintiff’s mark ‘IKEA’, either as trademark or trade name on hoarding of store/shops including stationery, banners, handbills, promotional materials etc,” the court ordered.

Justice Singh added that Ikea is free to write to JustDial for taking down the page of the Defendant with the name ‘IKEA Luxury Furniture’.

Counsel for Plaintiff: Ms. Shwetasree Majumder, Ms. Tanya Varma, Mr. Rohan Krishna Seth, Advs

Title: INTER IKEA SYSTEMS BV v. IKEA LUXURY FURNITURE

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 1138

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