Del HC stops Intel namesake from trademark use

The Delhi High Court today restrained a local company from using Intel Corporation's registered trademark 'Intel' and asked it give compensation to the global chip maker for the infringment.

Delivering the judgment on the trademark infringement suit filed by Intel Corporation, Justice Gita Mittal said: "I pass a decree restraining the defendent (Intel Info Service) from conducting any business using Intel as a trade name or any other mark deceptively similar to the plaintiff's (Intel) registered mark under Intel." Declining to grant compensation to Intel for causing damage to its trademark and name, the court said that Intel has failed to place evidence and material before it whereon it could be held to be entitled to compensatory damage.

Intel Corporation, engaged in the manufacturing of computer chip and other related computer products, had filed a trademark infringement suit in the High Court against a local commercial enterprise engaged in the business of providing internet facilities using its trademark.

Intel's counsel Manmohan Singh contended that it has exclusive registered trademark over the word 'Intel' which has been used by it as its corporate name and trademark on its products since 1968.

Intel, which later in 1991 adopted the mark 'Intel Inside', contended that only those computer companies which are licensed by it have authority to use the logo.