Campus vs Campus: Trademark clash highlights rising tensions in brand identity battles

The dispute, now before the Delhi High Court, hinges on the use of the word “Campus”, a shared moniker that has now become a point of contention between the two retail players. Campus Activewear alleges that Campus Sutra has unlawfully used its trademark in a manner that could mislead consumers and dilute brand equity.

By  Storyboard18| Jul 17, 2025 10:42 AM
Campus Activewear alleges that Campus Sutra has unlawfully used its trademark in a manner that could mislead consumers and dilute brand equity.

Campus Activewear has taken fashion label Campus Sutra to court over trademark infringement, a legal showdown that underscores the growing friction between legacy brands and digital-era fashion disruptors.

As per a report by Bar and Bench, the dispute, now before the Delhi High Court, hinges on the use of the word “Campus”, a shared moniker that has now become a point of contention between the two retail players. Campus Activewear alleges that Campus Sutra has unlawfully used its trademark in a manner that could mislead consumers and dilute brand equity.

Campus Sutra, on the other hand, claims the overlap is minimal and unintentional. Represented by Senior Advocate Amit Sibal, the fashion brand told the court that only three of its over 11,000 designs featured the standalone “Campus” mark and that those were listed online inadvertently. The company has since moved to delist the items and committed to refraining from using “Campus” alone on any product until the matter is heard again in November.

Importantly, Campus Sutra has maintained that it has operated under the full name “Campus Sutra” since 2012, never using “Campus” as a standalone identity, particularly not for footwear, the category where Campus Activewear dominates.

Justice Amit Bansal recorded this voluntary undertaking and issued notice to Campus Sutra on the plea for interim relief filed by Campus Activewear, represented by Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi and the legal team from Panag & Babu.

First Published onJul 17, 2025 10:42 AM

SPOTLIGHT

Brand MakersDigital Entertainment Summit 2025: The Highlights

The Storyboard18 Digital Entertainment Summit (DES) unpacked India's strategy for leading the digital entertainment economy, with top policymakers where they putlined how talent, technology, and governance would fuel future-ready growth.

Read More

In Photos: At DES 2025, India charts ambitious course for digital entertainment leadership

At the Storyboard18 Digital Entertainment Summit in New Delhi, policymakers and industry leaders outlined how talent, technology, and governance will drive India’s push to dominate the global entertainment economy.