Name ought to be protected: HC bars usage of Ratan Tata's name, image in award show

Noting that Tata is a well-known trademark and the late Ratan Tata is a prominent figure who deserved protection of his name, the Delhi High Court on Friday restrained journalist Rajat Srivastava, founder of the Delhi Today Group, and others from using the registered trademark "Tata", the name "Tata Trust", and the late Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Naval Tata's name or photograph in any form.

"Ratan Tata is a well-known figure and his name is liable to be protected and cannot be used by a third party without consent," Justice Mini Pushkarna said, while passing the order on a joint petition filed by Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Tata Sons.

The companies alleged that Srivastava was planning an event called "Ratan Tata National Icon Award 2025" and "India Visionary Leaders Summit 2025" on February 10 in the Capital, giving the impression that this was supported and endorsed by the Tata Group. "The defendants, with dishonesty and malafides, came up with misleading posts about the aforesaid event on its social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram and Linkedln," senior counsel Rajiv Nayyar, assisted by counsel Sauran Seth, argued.


"This is a clear case of fraud where the defendants are blatantly misusing the plaintiffs' registered marks to defraud the public into paying them nomination fee," they argued.

While passing a decree in favour of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Tata Sons, Justice Pushkarna directed Srivastava and his company Yuci Mentors to undertake in two days that they will not use registered trademarks of the Tatas and the name and photographs of the late Ratan Tata in any form, including for conferring any award.

The HC will hear the case next on Wednesday to peruse the affidavit filed by the respondents.

However, Srivastava's counsel told the HC that the social media post for the event had been taken down, and the event had been cancelled after they received objections from the Tata group.