SC strips Ecotech off ‘Hero’ tag

Mohit Khanna

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 6

In a major setback to Vijay Munjal-led Hero Ecotech Limited, the Supreme Court has ordered that Pankaj Munjal-led Hero Cycles Limited has exclusive usership rights over the trademark and trade name “Hero” with or without prefix or suffix for bicycle business in India, said the press note issued by Hero Cycles today.

The statement reads “The Supreme Court of India while deciding the issue of interim injunction has upheld the order of the Patna District Court.

“The Patna District Court while deciding the issue of interim injunction had in its order dated March 21, 2015 stated that M/s Hero Cycles Limited has exclusive usership rights over trademark and trade name “Hero” with or without prefix or suffix for manufacture and sale of bicycle and bicycle components in India.”

The Patna district court had accordingly restrained M/s Hero Ecotech Limited from infringing the exclusive rights of M/s Hero Cycles Limited in the trademark and trade name “Hero” with or without prefix or suffix for bicycles, tricycles or their parts in India.

Earlier also, Hero had maintained an aggressive approach and even got the police case registered on a relative for using the company’s brand name on components. However, the matter was said to have settled after the intervention of other family members.

A few months ago, Hero had dragged Avon Cycles into the court for intellectual property right (IPR) violation, alleging piracy of its registered design bicycle. Later, the matter was settled after Avon discontinued the production of disputed design of cycle.