New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has ruled in favor of Lifestyle Equities CV, awarding the company Rs 340 crore in damages after finding that Amazon had infringed upon its Beverly Hills Polo Club trademark. The verdict was delivered by Justice Prathiba M. Singh, with a detailed order awaited.
Lifestyle Equities had initiated a trademark infringement lawsuit in 2020 against Amazon Technologies and other entities, alleging unauthorized use of its registered Beverly Hills Polo Club logo and marks on apparel and related products sold on Amazon’s platforms. The company specifically accused Amazon Technologies of manufacturing and marketing products under the brand Symbol with a deceptively similar mark. Cloudtail India, a seller on Amazon.in, was also implicated in the sale of these products.
On October 12, 2020, the High Court issued an interim injunction, barring Amazon and associated parties from using the disputed logo. Amazon Seller Services was directed to remove all infringing products from its marketplace. However, Amazon Technologies did not appear in court and was proceeded against ex-parte.
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The injunction was later made absolute. In 2023, Cloudtail India admitted liability and proposed a settlement, but mediation efforts failed. Cloudtail acknowledged selling products with the infringing mark from 2015 to July 2020, generating revenue of Rs 23,92,420 with a 20% profit margin.
While Cloudtail’s legal counsel argued that it alone should bear responsibility based on an Amazon Brand License and Distribution Agreement, Lifestyle Equities countered that the infringing mark was not covered under this agreement and held both Amazon and Cloudtail accountable.
The Court recognized Cloudtail’s admission of liability but ruled that Lifestyle Equities had the right to seek damages from Amazon as well. It awarded Rs 4,78,484 in damages against Cloudtail, representing 20% of the revenue from the infringing sales.
Amazon Seller Services was acknowledged as an intermediary and was removed from the case after complying with the Court’s directives to eliminate infringing listings and agreeing to prevent future violations.
Lifestyle Equities was represented by Senior Advocate Gaurav Pachnanda, alongside a legal team from Sim and San, comprising Advocates Sidhant Goel, Mohit Goel, and Deepankar Mishra.