New Delhi, May 21, 2026: Anand and Anand has secured a significant victory for Bridgestone Corporation before the Trade Marks Registry, Delhi, which has refused registration of the mark ‘TRI BIGSTONEPUNCTURE’ (label) in Class 12 after finding it deceptively similar to the globally recognised BRIDGESTONE trademark.
In a detailed order, the Registrar of Trade Marks upheld Bridgestone’s opposition and concluded that the impugned mark was likely to cause confusion among consumers. The Registry observed that the dominant element “BIGSTONE” appeared to have been derived from BRIDGESTONE by merely dropping certain letters and held that the additional elements in the applicant’s mark were insufficient to distinguish it from Bridgestone’s well-known mark.
The Registry further found that the competing marks were visually, structurally and phonetically similar, and reiterated the settled principle that where the essential feature of a prior trademark has been adopted, the presence of additional matter does not dispel the likelihood of confusion.
Importantly, the Registrar rejected the applicant’s defence of honest adoption and held that there was no satisfactory explanation for the adoption of the impugned mark. The order records that the adoption appeared unfair and mala fide, reinforcing the protection available to established and reputed brands against attempts to appropriate their goodwill.
The applicant’s claim of use was also rejected, with the Registry holding that the evidence on record was insufficient to establish the claimed user. In addition, the applicant’s argument that its goods were distinct from those of Bridgestone was not accepted. The Registry held that the goods shared a common consumer base and were likely to create confusion in the marketplace.
The order also recognises Bridgestone’s extensive reputation and prior rights in the BRIDGESTONE mark, noting its inclusion in the Registrar’s list of well-known trademarks.
The decision underscores the increasing willingness of Indian trademark authorities to scrutinise attempts to adopt marks that closely mimic reputed brands and serves as a reminder that minor textual variations will not insulate an applicant from findings of deceptive similarity where the overall commercial impression remains closely associated with a prior mark.
Safir Anand, Head of Trademarks, Commercial and Corporate IP at Anand and Anand, said:
“This decision is a strong reaffirmation of the principle that goodwill built over decades cannot be appropriated through cosmetic alterations or clever misspellings. The Registry has rightly recognised that consumer perception remains central to trademark protection and that well-known marks must receive meaningful protection against attempts to ride on their reputation.”
The matter was handled by Safir Anand along with Twinky Rampal and Vaishali Sharma from Anand and Anand.
About Anand and Anand
Anand and Anand is one of India’s leading intellectual property law firms with offices in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru. The firm advises and represents clients across patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, litigation, enforcement and allied areas of intellectual property law as also corporate and commercial laws. For over a century, Anand and Anand has been at the forefront of protecting innovation, brands and creative assets for domestic and international clients.
