Archive · 8 Nov 2025
Delhi Court Orders Bengaluru Restaurant to Stop Using 'Carnatic' Name
Imagine you have a special name for your lemonade stand that you registered, so no one else can use it.
A restaurant in Delhi called Carnatic Cafe has a registered name for their South Indian food.
Another company opened a restaurant in Bengaluru and also used the name 'Carnatic'.
The Delhi restaurant said this was confusing people and hurting their business because they had the name first and it was registered.
A judge in Delhi agreed.
The judge told the Bengaluru restaurant they must stop using the name 'Carnatic' for their restaurant, their website, and any advertising.
They also have to transfer their website name to the Delhi restaurant.
Because the Bengaluru company didn't properly respond to the lawsuit, the judge ordered them to pay the Delhi restaurant money for the trouble and legal costs.
A Delhi court has ruled that a Bengaluru restaurant operated by Lemonpepper Hospitality Private Limited cannot use the name 'CARNATIC'.
The ruling upholds the trademark rights of Delhi's Carnatic Cafe, which has held the registered 'CARNATIC' mark since 2011.
The court found that Lemonpepper Hospitality's use of the name infringed upon Carnatic Cafe's statutory rights and goodwill.
Lemonpepper Hospitality is also prohibited from using any identical or deceptively similar marks and must transfer its 'CARNATIC' domain name within one month.
Carnatic Cafe was awarded Rs 60,000 in damages and litigation costs due to the infringement.
- Who
- Carnatic Cafe and Lemonpepper Hospitality Private Limited
- What
- A Delhi court issued a permanent injunction against Lemonpepper Hospitality, barring them from using the name 'CARNATIC', any identical or deceptively similar mark, or domain name, and awarded Rs 60,000 in damages and costs to Carnatic Cafe.
- When
- The court order was issued on October 29; the dispute began in December 2018, with the lawsuit filed in April 2019.
- Where
- Saket Courts, Delhi
- Why
- Lemonpepper Hospitality infringed upon Carnatic Cafe's registered trademark for 'CARNATIC' by using the name and similar branding, causing harm to Carnatic Cafe's goodwill and reputation, and failed to file a defense.
Carnatic Cafe (Plaintiff)
Lemonpepper Hospitality (Defendant)
Trademark Infringement
Carnatic Cafe (Plaintiff)
Carnatic Cafe holds a registered trademark for 'CARNATIC' since 2011 and has prior, continuous use, establishing statutory rights. The Bengaluru restaurant's use of the identical name infringes upon these rights.
Lemonpepper Hospitality (Defendant)
Lemonpepper Hospitality failed to file written statements and submissions within the stipulated time, leading to an ex parte order against them.
Brand Value and Customer Confusion
Carnatic Cafe (Plaintiff)
The unauthorized use of the 'CARNATIC' name by the Bengaluru restaurant was intended to piggyback on Carnatic Cafe's established brand value, causing harm to its goodwill and reputation.
Lemonpepper Hospitality (Defendant)
The court found that the defendant's unauthorized use of an identical mark was established.
- Plaintiff
- Carnatic Cafe (Owner Pavan Jambagi)
- Defendant
- Lemonpepper Hospitality Private Limited
- Court
- Saket Courts, Delhi (District Judge Neelam Singh)
- Registered Trademark Holder Since
- 2011
- Dispute Origin
- December 2018
- Lawsuit Filed
- April 2019
- Damages and Costs Awarded
- Rs 60,000
- Order Date
- October 29
Sources
Delhi court restrains Bengaluru restaurant from using ‘Carnatic’ mark
Big Win For Carnatic Cafe, Court Restrains Bengaluru Eatery From Using Tag
Delhi Court Bars Bengaluru Restaurant From Using 'Carnatic' Tag After Trademark Dispute
