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Supreme Court Upholds Ban on 'Saurashtra Aaj Tak' Newspaper Name
A Gujarati newspaper wanted to keep the name “Saurashtra Aaj Tak.”
TV Today Network said the name might make readers think the paper was connected to its Aaj Tak news channel.
The Delhi High Court ordered the newspaper to choose a different name.
The newspaper asked the Supreme Court to change that decision.
The Supreme Court refused and said the case involved passing off.
It also rejected the newspaper’s request for six months to change its name.
Instead, it gave the newspaper three months to finish rebranding.
The dispute began after TV Today learned in 2002 that the newspaper was being published in Rajkot.
The Supreme Court dismissed a Gujarati newspaper’s challenge to a Delhi High Court order barring it from using the name “Saurashtra Aaj Tak.”
The bench said the case was one of clear passing off and found no reason to interfere with the high court’s ruling.
TV Today Network argued that the name could confuse the public about whether the newspaper was associated with its Aaj Tak news channel.
The Delhi High Court had required the newspaper to adopt a name that was neither identical nor deceptively similar to the Aaj Tak trademark.
The Supreme Court gave the newspaper three months to comply and complete its rebranding, rather than the six months it requested.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, a Gujarati newspaper using the name “Saurashtra Aaj Tak,” and TV Today Network.
- What
- The Supreme Court dismissed the newspaper’s challenge to an order requiring it to stop using that name and rebrand.
- Where
- The case was heard in India; the newspaper was being published from Rajkot.
- When
- The Supreme Court ruling was reported on Oct. 7; the dispute dates back to 2002.
- Why
- TV Today Network argued the name could mislead the public into believing the newspaper was associated with its Aaj Tak news channel.
TV Today Network
Gujarati newspaper
Use of the name
TV Today Network
TV Today argued that “Saurashtra Aaj Tak” amounted to passing off and could confuse the public about an association with Aaj Tak.
Gujarati newspaper
The newspaper challenged the order barring it from using the title; an earlier trial court had allowed continued use subject to a prominent disclaimer.
Time to rebrand
TV Today Network
The Delhi High Court directed the newspaper to adopt a name that was not identical or deceptively similar to the Aaj Tak trademark.
Gujarati newspaper
The newspaper sought six months to change its name, but the Supreme Court granted three months.
Key facts
- Supreme Court outcome
- Dismissed the newspaper’s plea and declined to interfere with the Delhi High Court order.
- Compliance period
- Three months to comply with the high court’s directions and complete rebranding.
- Delhi High Court ruling
- Directed the newspaper to adopt a name neither identical nor deceptively similar to the Aaj Tak trademark.
- Earlier trial court decision
- In February 2012, allowed the newspaper to keep the title if it published a prominent disclaimer.
- Dispute timeline
- TV Today learned the newspaper was being published from Rajkot in 2002 and filed a passing-off suit in April 2003.
Quotes
Chief Justice Surya Kant
Chief Justice of India, commenting when the newspaper sought six months to change its name.
“You can make Saurashtra Aaj Tak to Saurashtra Raat Din tomorrow only.”
theprint.in
“This is a clear case of passing off.”
theprint.in
Sources
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