Ratan Tata Is Well-Known Personal Name, Needs To Be Protected From Unauthorised Use By Third Party: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has said that the name of industrialist Ratan Tata is a “well- known personal name or trademark” which needs to be protected from any unauthorised use by any third party.

Justice Mini Pushkarna ruled in favour of Ratan Tata Trust in a suit filed against a journalist- Dr. Rajat Srivastava, alleging that the latter was unauthorisedly using Ratan Tata's name to host an award ceremony.

The suit alleged that Srivastava was hosting the event by the name of “THE RATAN TATA NATIONAL ICON AWARD 2024” at the Maharashtra Sadan by using the name and photo of Ratan Tata.

It was further alleged that the journalist was charging a nomination fee for the event while claiming association with the name Tata Trusts, Tata group and Ratan Tata.

Decreeing the suit in favour of Ratan Tata Trust, the Court observed that Ratan Tata's name falls in a category, wherein, besides being a personal name, it has attained a distinctive indica of its own.

Taking note of Ratan Tata's achievements, the Court observed that it was a clear case of fraud where Srivastava was blatantly misusing Ratan Tata's registered trademarks and his name to defraud the public into paying them nomination fee for the event which the victims otherwise would not have parted with had it not been for the misuse of the said trademarks and well-known personal name.

“This Court notes that TATA has already been declared as a well- known mark. Further, late Mr. Ratan Tata, who was the Chairman of the plaintiff no. 2, is a well-known figure and his name as such is liable to be protected and cannot be used by any third party without any consent or authorization, from the plaintiffs,” the Court said.

It added that prima facie, it was a bad faith and egregious infringement of plaintiffs' statutory and legal rights, in order to have a free ride on the tremendous goodwill of Ratan Tata, with a view to benefitting from and gaining publicity out of his distinct and widely regarded personality and public persona.

The counsel appearing for Srivastava told Court that the impugned listing on his website was already removed and that the event in question had been cancelled.

On this, the Court restrained Srivastava from using the registered trademarks TATA or TATA Trust and the name and photograph of Ratan Tata for any purpose, including, conferring any awards.

Title: SIR RATAN TATA TRUST & ANR v. DR. RAJAT SHRIVASTAVA & ORS.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 154

Click here to read order