Delhi High Court Refers EBC–Rupa Trademark Dispute on Constitution Pocket Edition To Mediation

The Delhi High Court has recently referred a trademark dispute between EBC Publishing Pvt. Ltd. and Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd. to mediation before the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre. The dispute concerns the alleged deceptive similarity between the publishers' coat-pocket editions of the Constitution of India. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the order on November 6, 2025, while hearing Rupa Publications' plea to vacate the ex-parte injunction earlier granted in favour of EBC Publishing.Earlier, on September 25, 2025, the Court had restrained Rupa Publications from selling its edition after finding it deceptively similar to EBC's version in terms of colour scheme, gold detailing, font, and layout. The court had observed that both publishers operate in the same trade channels and cater to the same class of consumers, creating a strong likelihood of confusion. The court noted that the similarities were not coincidental and that Rupa Publications had “entirely copied the layout” of EBC's product without any independent creativity. Citing the Delhi High Court's earlier decision in Colgate Palmolive Co. v. Anchor Health and Beauty Care Pvt. Ltd., the Court had reiterated that while no one can claim monopoly over a single colour, a distinctive colour combination and trade dress consistently used can become a source identifier deserving protection. Subsequently, Rupa Publications filed an application seeking to vacate that injunction order. On November 06, both the parties informed the Court that they are open to resolving the dispute through mediation. Accordingly, with their consent, the Court referred the matter to the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre. The mediation session is scheduled to take place on November 20, 2025. Case Title: EBC Publishing (P) Ltd & Anr v. Rupa Publications India Private Limited Case Number: CS (COMM) 1034/2025 For Plaintiff: Advocates Raghavendra Mohan Bajaj, Shagun Agarwal and Zeeshan Ahmad For Defendant: Advocates Rahul Sharma, Santanam Swaminadman, Anand Singh, Kartik Malhotra, Anindit Mandal and DarshithaClick Here To Read/Download The Order

Delhi High Court Refers EBC–Rupa Trademark Dispute on Constitution Pocket Edition To Mediation

Ayushi Shukla

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