The Delhi High Court has ordered Amazon to pay approximately $39 million (₹340 crore) in damages to Lifestyle Equities for trademark infringement involving the Beverly Hills Polo Club (BHPC) brand. The court found Amazon guilty of deliberately and willfully infringing the BHPC trademark by selling products with a deceptively similar logo under its private label “Symbol.” This ruling emphasizes the court’s stance against e-commerce platforms facilitating trademark violations and highlights the need for a robust legal framework to combat such infringements.
Background
Lifestyle Equities C.V. and Lifestyle Licensing B.V., owners of the BHPC brand, initiated a trademark infringement lawsuit against Amazon Technologies, Inc., Cloudtail India Pvt. Ltd., and Amazon Seller Services Pvt. Ltd. in 2020. The plaintiffs alleged that Amazon’s use of a nearly identical logo on its “Symbol” brand products constituted trademark infringement, leading to consumer confusion and brand dilution.
Recent Judgment
Justice Prathiba M. Singh of the Delhi High Court ruled that Amazon’s actions were a “deliberate strategy of obfuscation” aimed at evading liability for trademark infringement. The court observed that Amazon’s platform was selling counterfeit products at significantly lower prices than BHPC’s premium products, further diluting the brand’s market goodwill.
The court applied the “Triple Identity Test” for trademark infringement, finding that the infringing logo was almost identical to BHPC’s, the goods were identical, and the consumers/trade channels were also identical.
The court granted a permanent injunction against Amazon, restraining it from using the BHPC logo or any deceptively similar mark. Additionally, Amazon was ordered to pay damages of approximately ₹340 crore ($39 million) to compensate for the economic loss suffered by Lifestyle Equities due to the unauthorized use of its trademark.
Implications
This judgment has significant implications for e-commerce platforms in India, emphasizing their responsibility to prevent trademark infringement on their platforms.
It highlights the need for a robust legal framework to combat e-infringement by e-commerce players, as suggested by the Delhi High Court. The ruling also underscores the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the digital marketplace.
In conclusion, the Delhi High Court’s decision marks a crucial step in safeguarding trademark rights and promoting accountability among e-commerce giants like Amazon.
Lifestyle Equities C.V. v. Amazon Technologies, Inc., CS(COMM) 443/2020 (H.C. Delhi Feb. 25, 2025).
About Author
Krishnapriya Mishra
4th year Law Student at Xavier Law School, XIM University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
