Marico entered the segment with the launch of its product last month. In an order passed last week, the Delhi high court said that the two-products prima facie show a similarity, which can cause confusion in the minds of the buyer even though the brand name saffola is mentioned on the bottle. The court granted an ad-interim injunction in favour of Dabur, saying in the absence of an injunction, the plaintiff would suffer irreparable loss. It also clarified that this interim injunction would not apply to the products already sold by Marico and it will maintain the accounts thereof, which will be submitted to the court. However, In a subsequent appeal by Marico, both parties agreed that the “order be kept in abeyance since the interim application preferred by the plaintiff/respondent herein is still pending consideration and has not been disposed of” according to a court order of July 17. Dabur declined to comment. Marico declined to comment on the order as it is sub judice, but said it continues to manufacture and sell its product. Dabur which has been selling packaged honey since 1965, said in the filling that “trade dress/label/packaging/ get up” is being imitated by Marico, especially the cap of the bottle, colour and label. The honey business reported sales of Rs 482 crore in the last fiscal.
