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Delhi HC sides with Mattel, bars local firm from using ‘Barbie’ trademark
The Delhi High Court restrained a local entrepreneur from using the Barbie name for catering and hospitality ventures, ruling in favor of Mattel. The Court upheld Mattel’s trademark rights, ordering takedowns of infringing domains and social media.
Mattel, which has held registrations for the Barbie trademark in India since 1985 and has been using it extensively since 1987 (Image source: Moneycontrol)
The Delhi High Court has granted toy giant Mattel Inc. an interim relief in its ongoing trademark battle, restraining a local entrepreneur from using the “Barbie” name across his business ventures, Bar and Bench reported.
In an order dated September 9, Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora ruled that the defendant, Padum Borah, had been misusing the Barbie brand identity by operating under names such as Barbie Enterprises, Barbie Kitchen and Barbie Caterin.
The Court observed that Borah’s use of the marks created “initial interest confusion” and could cause irreparable harm to Mattel’s iconic brand equity.
Mattel, which has held registrations for the Barbie trademark in India since 1985 and has been using it extensively since 1987, argued that the defendant’s actions diluted the distinctiveness of a brand synonymous worldwide with dolls, lifestyle products, and more recently, blockbuster films.
Despite a cease-and-desist notice, Borah continued to operate under the Barbie-themed names and even sought registrations such as Barbie One Stop Solution for HORECA Foods and Barbie Hospitality.
The Court directed Borah to immediately cease using the trademark, remove all Barbie-branded social media content, and suspend domain names containing the word “Barbie.”
The case underlines the brand protection strategy of global consumer IPs in India, especially following the surge in Barbie’s cultural relevance post the 2023 Hollywood film.
For Mattel, the ruling reinforces its stance that the Barbie name is non-negotiable intellectual property, not open to dilution in unrelated sectors like catering or kitchen equipment.
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