The Ritz Hotel Limited & Ors v. M S Hotel Ritz & Ors.

In the recent judgment, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court, granted a decree of permanent injunction against M S Hotel Ritz & Ors (“Defendants”) restraining them from infringing the trademarks of The Ritz Hotel Limited & Ors (“Plaintiffs”) and declared the Plaintiffs’ RITZ, RITZ-CARLTON, THE RITZ-CARLTON Device marks as well-known trademarks in respect of hotels and other related services in the hospitality industry. 

In November 2023, the Plaintiff discovered that the Defendants were using the RITZ marks for hotel services on their websites. An investigation revealed they were also promoting these services on major travel platforms like MakeMyTrip, Agoda, and Booking.com. The unauthorized use was causing marketplace confusion and generating negative reviews, risking harm to the Plaintiffs’ reputation. Consequently, the Plaintiffs filed a suit against the Defendants seeking a relief of permanent injunction restraining them from infringement of trademarks and passing off their services as those of the Plaintiffs, along with other ancillary reliefs.

Post hearing the counsel for the parties and examining the material submitted on record, the court granted a decree of permanent injunction in favor of the Plaintiffs, restraining the Defendants from using any infringing RITZ marks in connection with their hotel services and also directed them to  immediately discontinue the use of the websites www.thehotelritz.com and www.ritz-hotels.com.

Further, based on the pleading, the nature and volume of the documents submitted, the Court observed that the long-standing use of  the RITZ, RITZ-CARLTON and THE RITZ-CARLTON Device marks by the Plaintiffs, their widespread geographical presence, public recognition, and their goodwill and reputation due to the extensive promotion, publicity and extensive revenue generated by the Plaintiffs, in India and abroad, have led the RITZ and RITZ-CARLTON marks to attain the status of well-known trademarks. Accordingly, the Court declared the RITZ and RITZ-CARLTON, THE RITZ-CARLTON Device marks as well-known trademarks in respect of hotels and other related services in the hospitality industry within the meaning of Section 2(1)(zg) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999.

The Ritz Hotel Limited & Ors v. M S Hotel Ritz & Ors., CS(COMM) 8/2025

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