Court: Burger King has "miserably failed" to prove trademark infringement case against Pune restaurant

普纳餐厅商标侵权案，汉堡王“败诉”

In a surprising verdict, a Pune district court has dismissed a 13-year-old lawsuit filed by the American fast-food chain Burger King Corporation against a locally-owned eatery with the same name. The US company had accused the Pune-based Burger King of trademark infringement and sought a permanent injunction, damages, and a halt to the use of the name. The court dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Burger King Corporation in 2011, seeking a permanent injunction restraining infringement of trademark.

普纳地区法院做出了一个令人惊讶的裁决，驳回了美国快餐连锁汉堡王公司对当地一家同名餐厅提起的诉讼，该案持续长达13年。这家美国公司指控位于普纳的汉堡王商标侵权，并寻求永久禁令、损害赔偿和停止使用该商标。印度法院驳回了汉堡王公司于2011年提起的诉讼，该诉讼寻求永久禁令，限制商标侵权。

However, the court ruled in favor of the local eatery, stating that it had been operating under the name "Burger King" since 1991-92, well before the US chain entered the Indian market.

然而，法院做出了支持当地餐馆的裁决，称该餐厅自1991-1992年以来一直以“汉堡王”的名义经营，远远早于这家美国连锁店进入印度市场。

The plaintiff's first Indian BURGER KING restaurant was opened in New Delhi on November 9, 2014, the court said.

法院称，原告汉堡王的第一家印度分店于2014年11月9日在新德里开业。

The court found no evidence to support Burger King Corporation's claim that customers were confused or misled by the local eatery's use of the name. Additionally, the company failed to prove any actual financial loss due to the alleged infringement. The court said the Burger King Corporation has "miserably failed" to prove that the eatery here had infringed its trademark Burger King while running the restaurant in Pune.

法院未发现任何证据支持汉堡王公司的主张，即被告的店面使用“汉堡王”会误导顾客。此外，该公司未能证明因涉嫌侵权而造成实际经济损失。法院表示，汉堡王公司未能证明这家餐馆在普纳经营时侵犯了汉堡王的商标。

Burger King filed the lawsuit against Anahita Irani and Shapoor Irani. The Iranis opposed the suit, saying it was filed with malafide intentions and to discourage business people who are bonafide users and retailers. They said that apart from the name Burger King, there was absolutely no similarity in the plaintiff's trademark and their own shop name.

遭起诉的当地餐馆表示，反对法院受理这起案件，称这起诉讼具有恶意，是为了打击小企业。他们还提出，除了“汉堡王”这个名称外，原告的商标和他们的餐馆没有任何相似之处。

This decision may have implications for trademark disputes involving established local businesses and multinational corporations.

印度法院的这一裁决，可能会影响此后涉及印度本地公司和跨国企业的商标纠纷案件。

The Pune-based restaurant owners had counterclaimed for damages due to the harassment they endured during the lengthy legal battle. They sought Rs 20 lakh as damages. The court, however, refused any monetary relief to them too, noting that apart from oral evidence, no other proof was submitted to substantiate their claims.

普纳餐馆的老板还提出了反诉，要求汉堡王公司赔偿200万卢比的损失，理由是在漫长的法律诉讼中，这家小店遭到了骚扰。然而，法院也拒绝了他们提出的赔偿要求，认定除了口头证据外，他们没能提供任何其他证据来证实这些赔偿要求是合理的。

印度时报读者的评论：

Jigyasu

The costs should have been recovered from the MNC.

诉讼产生的这些费用应该由汉堡王承担。

Martian

Burger king was established in 1954...so it should have got precedence

汉堡王成立于1954年，所以它应该有优先版权

Martian

If global brands have to face this then nobody will come and invest

这样下去，以后全球品牌都不会来印度投资了

Droid

Anybody who has been to this pune 'burger king' knows that the american burger kind can never match the quality and quantity of the pune BK.

去过普纳当地“汉堡王”的人都知道，美国汉堡在质和量上永远无法与普纳“汉堡王”相比。

Joyraj Kakoti

As if this Puneri restaurant owner named his place organically as ‘Burger King’.Surely he copied the name from the american foodchain which was found in 1950s

汉堡王是1950年代成立的连锁品牌，普纳餐馆的老板抄袭别人的名字

Arjun Phukan

The best burger in India is served by “ Burger King “ Pune , now i thibk it is called as only Burger . No other burger joint has the tastiest and juiciest like our very own Burger king Koregaon park and MG Road . I wish the pune Burger king could open few more branches across India .

印度最好吃的汉堡是普纳的“汉堡王”，其他汉堡店没有这样美味多汁得汉堡。我希望普纳汉堡王能在印度多开几家分店。

1 da

Indian chains can only grow if they show originality and creativity. Copying MNCs show Limited Mindset.

印度连锁店要有原创性和创造力，才能发展壮大。抄袭跨国公司表明思维局限。

3 0 • Reply • Flag

By the same token, Should not the Pune BK be suing the American BK for using the BK name in India. After all they were here first in India

这么说的话，普纳汉堡王不应该起诉美国汉堡王在印度使用“汉堡王”这个名字吗？毕竟在印度是他们先开的

2 0 • Reply • Flag

Arm twisting by American corporation,,We indian should welcome this judgement or else till today they couldn't find WMD in Iraq, but justified the war for their interest

我们印度人应该对该裁决表示欢迎。直到今天美国还没在伊拉克找到大规模杀伤性武器，他们为了自己的利益而发动自认为合理的战争。

0 0 • Reply • Flag

If India has to build and protect its image in the developed world we need to learn to respect IP (intellectual property). Burger King has been an American brand for may be 50 years, why did Pune eatery use that name in the first place? Weren’t they trying to con its customers? Even if we forget about the businesses we should keep the common man in sight who’s being misled each day.

如果印度要在发达世界建立和维护自己的形象，就要学会尊重知识产权。汉堡王作为一个美国品牌已经有50年了，为什么普纳的餐馆一开始要用这个名字呢？他们不是在欺骗顾客吗？即使不谈生意，我们也应该关注那些每天都被误导的普通人。

0 1 • Reply • Flag

We can use whatever name we want, even google for an eatery

我们想用什么名字就用什么名字

0 0 • Reply • Flag

its a right ruling by the court.

法院的裁决是正确的。

2 0 • Reply • Flag

What mind of nonsensical verdict is this? These judiciary is making India a banana republic!

这是什么荒谬的判决？这些司法机构正在把印度变成香蕉共和国

Amit Joshi

What kind of burger does Burger King want to sell in India? Buffalo burger?

汉堡王想在印度卖什么样的汉堡？水牛堡吗？

0 0 • Reply • Flag

How is this not copyright infringement? The question is not who opened shop first in India. The question is who registered their trademark first. If it was the international chain then they have every right to file a case of copyright infringement.

这怎么不是侵权？问题不在于谁先在印度开店。问题是谁先注册了这个商标。如果是国际连锁，那么他们完全有权提起侵犯版权的诉讼。

10 3 • Reply • Flag

do we have sane minds anywhere? this is blatant copyright infringement. and after so long, a bogus judgement. I don't care who is the plaintiff or dependent. BK globql has been operational for decades. the local eatery blatantly infringed on the copyright.

有头脑清醒的人吗？这是公然侵权。审了这么久，做了一个错误的裁决。我不管原告或被告是谁，“汉堡王”已经经营了几十年。当地餐馆公然侵权。

5 6 • Reply • Flag

Indians who like American burger king will know the difference between two. nobody earlier knew of American burger king.

喜欢美国汉堡王的印度人知道两者的区别。

0 0 • Reply • Flag

There was no infringement suit filed for use of the name in 1992 hence one cannot file so after 20 odd years

1992年，没有提起侵权诉讼，因此20多年后也不能告人家

0 0 • Reply • Flag

In that way we can open eateries with mnc names who are yet to enter the Indian market.

这样，我们就可以用尚未进入印度市场的跨国餐厅的名字开店。

8 0 • Reply • Flag

Good. Recover all the costs from the American Giant & ensure 50% of the money is paid to the Pune Restaurant.

很好，美国汉堡王承担所有费用，并确保50%的钱支付给普纳餐馆。

Rishi

Don't agree with the Judgement. It doesn't not matter when Burger King entered Indian market. The Pune restaurant owner just capitalized on the Brand equity of Burger King. It may not be illegal but morally and ethically wrong and designed to mislead customer.

反对这个判决。汉堡王何时进入印度市场并不重要。这位普纳餐厅的老板利用了汉堡王的品牌资产。可能不违法，但在道德和伦理上是错的，误导顾客。

Sb Sy

How many knew there is a company called Burger King in 1991 ??? At least I didn't.

1991年有多少人知道有一家叫汉堡王的公司？至少我不知道。

Sham

Let Burger King quit India. We don't need bullying American MNCs.

让汉堡王退出印度。我们不要恃强凌弱的美国跨国公司。