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NT Bureau
Chennai, Oct 14:

        Wipro Ltd has obtained an interim injunction against Oushadha Chandrika Ayurvedics India Pvt Ltd for manufacturing toilet soaps under the trademark Oushadha Chandrika.

        Wipro Ltd bought over trademark Chandrika from Chandrika family in 2004 through its subsidiary Wipro Chandrika Ltd which is the exclusive owner of that trademark. The company has acquired all rights in the said trademark along with goodwill.

        During July 2007 it was found by Wipro's sale team that a party trading under the name and style of Oushadha Chandrika Ayurvedics India Pvt Ltd in Kerala has started to manufacture toilet soap under the trademark Oushadha Chandrika. Wipro filed a suit for infringement before the Madras High Court and obtained order of interim injunction against the party.

        The High Court has prohibited the party to manufacture and sell soaps under the trademark Chandrika, Oushadha Chandrika or any deceptively similar mark or using any cartons of the colour scheme, get up similar to Chandrika, until further orders from the court.

        The court also appointed an advocate commissioner to visit the premises of the party and take inventory of all soaps and packaging material having the trademark Oushadha Chandrika. Armed with the order of the court, the commissioner visited the premises of Oushadha Chandrika Ayurvedics on 10 October and served copies of interim injunction. He also took inventory of all the finished goods and packaging, wrappers and would submit the report as directed by the court.

        Similar notice was served on a wholesaler in Thrissur who was stocking and selling goods manufactured by the party under trademark Oushadha Chandrika. Commenting on the action, Anil Chugh, senior vice president at Wipro Consumer Care, said the company valued its trademarks highly and any threat to IPRs (intellectual property rights) would be dealt with strongly.