Patanjali drags former partner to court

Patanjali drags former partner to court

Swami_Ramdev

Swami Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved has dragged a firm launched by former partner Swami Karamveer to Delhi High court for allegedly violating its trademark and copyrights.

Karamveer is a former partner of Ramdev, having cofounded Divya Yog Mandir Trust along with Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna. His company sells a number of consumer products from toothpaste and shampoo to juices and spices under the Kalpamrit brand.

Patanjali Ayurved has accused Maharishi Patanjali Parivar, whose unit Kalpamrit Ayurved works “under the direct inspiration and guidance” of yoga guru Karamveer, of “infringement of trademark, copyright, dilution, rendition of accounts and damages” by launching products that are “deceptively similar” to Patanjali products in name, logo and packaging. The high court in an interim order on Tuesday restrained Kalpamrit and its associates from using the word Patanjali or logo/artwork similar to those used by Patanjali till further orders.

“…this court is of the opinion that a prima facie case of infringement of trademark and copyright is made out in favour of the plaintiff and balance of convenience is also in its favour. Further, irreparable harm or injury would be caused to the plaintiff if an interim injunction order is not passed,” a bench of Justice Manmohan said.

The next hearing on the matter is listed for May 7.