Delhi High Court Restrains Knam Foods From Using 'AL-BUSTAN' Rice Packaging, Terms It 'Slavish Copy'

The Delhi High Court has barred Knam Foods Pvt. Ltd. from using the “AL-BUSTAN” brand name and its blue-and-yellow rice packaging after finding that the company had “slavishly copied” the design, layout, Arabic script, and even the mobile number printed on the bags of rival rice exporter Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar Exports Ltd. The ex-parte ad-interim injunction, passed on November 24 by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, will remain in force until April 14, 2026. Amir Chand Exports, which sells rice under brands such as “AEROPLANE” and “AL-BUSTAN,” told the court it has used the “AL-BUSTAN” mark and its distinctive packaging since 2007 and applied for trademark registration in 2011. The company alleged that Knam Foods adopted an identical brand name and trade dress to sell its rice.After reviewing the material, the court noted that Knam Foods' bags carried identical blue-and-yellow colouring, similar English and Arabic script, and the same overall layout and artistic features. “It prima facie appears that the Defendant has slavishly copied the essential features of the Plaintiff's packaging including its mark/label and over all get up/trade dress,” the Court said. It added that the imitation “establishes the intent of the Defendants to ride upon the goodwill and reputation of the Plaintiff.”The court also stressed that Amir Chand Exports was the prior user of the mark, having adopted it in 2007. In contrast, Knam Foods applied for its “AL-BUSTAN” trademark only in December 2024, claiming use since January 2023. Calling Knam Foods' adoption of the packaging not bona fide, the court held “This Court is of the prima facie opinion that a case of passing off has been made out by the Plaintiff; Since the products sold by both the parties are marketed through the same trade channels towards the same class of purchasers it is bound to create confusion and deception in the markets.”Until the next hearing, the order restrains Knam Foods and related entities from manufacturing, selling, exporting, importing, advertising or otherwise dealing in rice using the “AL-BUSTAN” mark, its blue-and-yellow packaging, or any deceptively similar trade dress.The matter will next be listed on April 14, 2026. Case Title: Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar Exports Ltd. v. Knam Foods Pvt. Ltd. & Ors.Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 1623 Case Number: CS(COMM) 1251/2025 For the Plaintiff: Advocates Ajay Amitabh Suman, Aviral Srivastava and Arpit Pundir, Click Here To Read/Download Order

Delhi High Court Restrains Knam Foods From Using 'AL-BUSTAN' Rice Packaging, Terms It 'Slavish Copy'

Ayushi Shukla

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