Offences and Penalties

•102. Falsifying and falsely applying trade marks

–Falsifying: 

•Making a mark or deceptively similar mark w/o proprietor’s assent or

•Falsifying a genuine mark whether by alteration, addition, effacement or otherwise 

–Falsely applying:

•Applying a mark or deceptively similar mark w/o assent to goods/services/package thereof

•Uses a package having that mark/deceptively similar mark for packing, filling or wrapping 

•Penalty: Any person who 

–falsifies any trade mark 

–falsely applies to goods or services any trade mark 

–Has or makes die, block, machine, plate or other instrument for above purposes 

–applies any false trade description to goods or services 

–Applies false indication of country, place, name or address of manufacturer/marketer 

–Tampers with, alters or effaces the indication of origin 

•“false trade description” means [S. 2(1)(i)] 

–untrue or misleading in a material respect 

–Altering original trade description to make it as above 

–any marks or arrangement or combination 

•Misleads the people of their merchandise/maker/origin /service provider 

–False name/initial of another person without assent 

•Punishment: Unless he proves that he acted without intent to defraud 

–Imprisonment 6 months – 3 years 

–Fine Rs. 50000 – 2 lakhs 

•Penalty for selling goods or providing services to which false trade mark or false trade description is applied: Any person who 

–sells, 

–lets for hire or 

–exposes for sale, or 

–hires or 

–has in his possession for sale 

•Punishment: 6 months – 3 years and fine Rs. 50 thousand to 2 lakh 

•Second or subsequent conviction [s. 105] 

–Imprisonment 1 year – 3 years 

–Fine 1 lakh – 2 lakh 

•S. 103 and 104 apply equally to registered or unregistered trade mark 

•107. Penalty for falsely representing a trade mark as registered: Representing 

–Unregistered mark as registered 

–Separately registered or otherwise 

–Registered in respect of particular goods/services 

•Imprisonment: Up to 3 years or fine or both 

•108. Penalty for improperly describing a place of business as connected with the Trade Marks Office. 

–Imprisonment: 2 years or fine or both

•Suit to be instituted before District Court (s. 134) 

–Infringement or passing off action 

–Jurisdiction: Person instituting the suit actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain 

•Autin Reed Ltd v. Suntex Garments, 2007 

–Applicant from England, defendant from Kolkata 

–Suit filed in Chennai