Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. successfully got a permanent ban on the website "motherdairydistributor.com," which was pretending to be them and using their name without permission. The High Court of Delhi, led by Justice Prathiba M. Singh, made this decision on December 24, 2025.
Background of the Case
Mother Dairy, a well-known brand, found out that a website was using their name to trick people by pretending to be an official distributor. This website was offering fake business opportunities and taking money from people who didn't know any better.
What Happened in Court
- Temporary Ban: On May 30, 2019, the court temporarily banned the website.
- Who Registered the Website: The website was registered by Kumar Prahlad, who lied about being a Mother Dairy executive.
- Court's Opinion: The court stressed the importance of protecting brand names and stopping people from being tricked.
Main Issues Discussed
- Fake Website Registrations: The court pointed out how trademarks are misused in website names to commit fraud.
- Privacy Issues: The automatic hiding of who owns a website by companies that register websites was criticized for helping fraudsters stay anonymous.
Court's Orders
- Permanent Ban: The website is permanently banned and can't be registered again.
- Transparency: Companies that register websites must not hide owner details automatically and should share them with the police or affected parties within 72 hours if asked.
- Extended Ban: This ban also applies to any website names using "Mother Dairy" or similar names, stopping future misuse.
Final Judgment
The court ruled in favor of Mother Dairy, ensuring their brand is protected and stopping further fake activities. This case sets an example for dealing with similar trademark misuse and online fraud cases.
This judgment protects Mother Dairy's brand and warns others against trying to misuse well-known brand names for illegal activities.
