A local eatery in Pune, also called ‘Burger King,’ has won a 13-year-long legal battle against the global fast-food chain Burger King Corporation.
The court’s decision delivered by District Judge Sunil Vedpathak, marks the end of the multinational company’s efforts to stop the Pune-based restaurant from using the name ‘Burger King.’
The legal battle started in 2011 when Burger King Corporation, a US-based company with over 13,000 outlets worldwide, filed a lawsuit against Anahita and Shapoor Irani, the owners of Pune’s Burger King.
The corporation sought a permanent injunction to prevent the Iranis from using the ‘Burger King’ name, claiming that it was damaging their brand’s reputation. They also demanded Rs 20 lakh in damages, arguing that the use of the name by the Pune restaurant was causing irreparable harm to their brand.
However, the court ruled in favour of the Iranis, highlighting that they had been using the ‘Burger King’ name for their restaurant since 1992, which was long before the US-based company entered the Indian market in 2014.
Judge Vedpathak pointed out that the corporation’s arguments were weak and did not prove that customers were confused or misled by the Pune restaurant’s use of the name.
The judge said, “Defendants have been using the trade name for their restaurant since about 1992. The pleadings put forth by the plaintiff are totally silent about how customers have been confused due to use of the trademark Burger King by defendants for their restaurant.”
The court also found that Burger King Corporation could not provide any solid evidence to show that the Pune eatery’s use of the ‘Burger King’ name had caused any harm to its brand. As a result, the court dismissed the multinational’s claims for a permanent injunction and damages, stating that the company was not entitled to any monetary relief.
The global fast-food giant argued that the Pune establishment’s use of the ‘Burger King’ name could cause confusion among customers and damage its global reputation. They claimed that their brand had built strong goodwill over the decades, and any use of a similar name by another business would be harmful.
In their defence, the Iranis argued that the lawsuit was filed with bad intentions, aiming to discourage small business owners like themselves.
They pointed out that apart from the name, there were no other similarities between their restaurant and the global fast-food chain.
They also claimed that they had faced harassment and intimidation due to the lawsuit and sought Rs 20 lakh in compensation for the mental distress caused by the long legal battle.
However, the court did not grant any monetary compensation to the Iranis, citing a lack of strong evidence to support their claims.
With this ruling, Pune’s Burger King can continue operating under the name that has been a part of the city’s food culture for over three decades.