Quick Summary: The Bombay High Court ruled in favor of IPCA Laboratories, stopping Anrose Pharma from using a similar name. Anrose must pay costs and stop selling products under the disputed name.
The Case Begins
IPCA Laboratories, based in Bombay, filed a lawsuit against Anrose Pharma for using a name too similar to theirs. The problem was over the name "ZEROVOL-P" by Anrose, which IPCA said was too close to their registered name "ZERODOL."
Court Proceedings
- Initial Orders: On October 29, 2013, the court gave IPCA temporary help by stopping Anrose from using the disputed name.
- Further Developments: Even after being officially notified on January 17, 2014, Anrose did not respond, so the court moved the case to a list of cases that are not defended in July 2017.
Evidence Presented
- IPCA’s Claim: IPCA said they had been using "ZERODOL" since 2003 for pain relief products. They showed proof of sales and advertising costs to back up their claim.
- Anrose’s Silence: Anrose did not provide any defense or proof to explain their use of "ZEROVOL-P."
Key Arguments
- Name Similarity: IPCA’s lawyers argued that "ZEROVOL-P" was confusingly similar to "ZERODOL," especially since both are used for medicine.
- Past Cases: The court looked at past cases where similar sounding names were considered confusing, supporting IPCA's side.
Court’s Decision
Judge Arif S. Doctor ruled in favor of IPCA on January 5, 2026. The court decided that:
- Name Infringement: Anrose’s use of "ZEROVOL-P" violated IPCA’s "ZERODOL" name rights.
- Confusion: There was a high chance that customers would mix up the two products.
Court Orders
- Ban: Anrose is permanently banned from using "ZEROVOL-P."
- Payment: Anrose must pay IPCA Rs. 15,00,000 within eight weeks, with an 8% interest penalty if late.
Summary of Verdict
The court ruled that Anrose Pharma's use of a similar name to IPCA's trademark was not allowed. Anrose must stop using the name and pay IPCA for the trouble caused.
