New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has restrained two individuals from selling footwear under the BATA trademark and directed Flipkart to remove the allegedly infringing product listings within 36 hours, reinforcing legal protection for one of India’s most recognised footwear brands.
The interim order, passed by Justice Jyoti Singh on July 8, found a prima facie case of trademark infringement under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The court observed that the disputed products carried the same BATA trademark and were being sold as footwear, making it likely to confuse consumers into believing they were genuine Bata products.
Counterfeit products found on Flipkart
According to court records, Bata India discovered suspicious listings on Flipkart during the third week of May 2026. The company issued a cease-and-desist notice to one of the sellers before placing an order to verify the products.
After receiving the footwear in June, Bata claimed the products were counterfeit despite being labelled as manufactured and marketed by Bata India Limited. The company also informed the court that neither of the two sellers held any trademark registration or pending application for the BATA name.
Court protects Bata’s long-standing trademark
The High Court noted that Bata has been the registered proprietor of the BATA trademark since 1931 and that the Allahabad High Court had previously recognised it as a well-known trademark.
Observing that the sellers’ actions could mislead customers and damage Bata’s goodwill, the court restrained them, along with anyone acting on their behalf, from selling, advertising or promoting goods under the BATA trademark until further orders.
Flipkart has also been directed to remove the infringing URLs within 36 hours. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on November 4, 2026.
The ruling highlights the judiciary’s continued efforts to protect consumers and well-known brands from counterfeit products being sold through online marketplaces.