Reliance Secures Trademark Victory for 'Vimal' Brand

In a decisive legal win for Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the Gujarat High Court has reinforced the company’s exclusive rights over the ‘Vimal’ trademark, barring a Ludhiana-based business from selling apparel under the same name.

The ruling came in response to an appeal by Jaipal Gaba and his firm Mack Hosiery, who had been restrained earlier by the Ahmedabad Commercial Court from using the marks ‘Vimal’, ‘Vimal Jonney’, and ‘Mack Vimal’ on their garments. The case, originally initiated by Reliance in 2021, centered on trademark infringement and brand misappropriation.

RIL argued that it has held exclusive rights to the ‘Vimal’ brand since 1967, backed by a trademark registration under Class 24, covering textiles and related goods. The company underscored its multi-decade brand-building efforts, which included significant advertising investments and endorsements by leading Bollywood stars and cricket personalities.

The infringement came to light when Gaba’s firm was found selling readymade garments—like T-shirts and shirts—under the 'Vimal' brand across multiple e-commerce platforms, sometimes even using the Reliance name in conjunction with ‘Vimal’, raising serious concerns over brand dilution and consumer confusion.

In their defense, Gaba and Mack Hosiery challenged the jurisdiction of the Ahmedabad court, contending that their operations are confined to Punjab and neighboring states. They also cited an old assignment deed from 1986, claiming rights over the name through Milap Hosiery, which had registered ‘Vimal’ under Class 25 (covering clothing, footwear, and headgear), supported by trademarks for 'Vmark', 'Vimal Jonney', and 'Mack Vimal' dating between 1993 and 2018.

However, the court noted that despite being in different trademark classes, textiles and garments are typically marketed through the same retail channels, and the similarities between the brands could easily mislead customers. Given RIL’s prior usage and nationwide brand visibility, the court determined that Reliance has the superior claim.

In its verdict, the court observed that the defendants’ use of the ‘Vimal’ name was misleading and constituted trademark infringement. It added that RIL had successfully established a case of passing off under Sections 27(2) and 135 of the Trademarks Act, affirming that Gaba’s usage was detrimental to RIL’s brand goodwill.

The Gujarat High Court’s decision upholding the initial injunction further strengthens Reliance’s legal protection over its historic ‘Vimal’ label and sets a strong precedent for brand integrity in India’s apparel industry.