Delhi High Court Cracks Down on Counterfeit Nutella Operation

The Delhi High Court has delivered a decisive ruling against MB Enterprises, permanently banning the company from manufacturing and selling counterfeit Nutella products. In a notable decision, the court also officially recognized Nutella as a well-known trademark under Indian law.

This landmark case, Ferrero SpA & Ors vs M.B. Enterprises, comes after the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra reported a raid on the company's Thane facility, where over 9.5 lakh counterfeit Nutella units were seized. The court found that these counterfeit products were produced under unhygienic conditions, posing a significant threat to public health.

Justice Saurabh Banerjee, who presided over the case, emphasized the defendant's deliberate intent to exploit Nutella's established goodwill. Ferrero, backed by advocates Pravin Anand, Vaishali R. Mittal, and Shivang Sharma, successfully argued their case, resulting in Rs 30 lakh in damages awarded by the court, along with additional costs payable to the Delhi High Court Bar Association's Welfare Fund.

(With inputs from agencies.)