Gap accuses two Indian companies for trademark violations

American apparel brand Gap, which opened doors to its first store in India recently has accused two Indian apparel manufacturers for trademark violations. The company has dragged them to the Delhi High Court for using labels such as Gap-In, Gap-2 and Gap Two.

According to Priya Rao, a lawyer representing Gap, the court has appointed commissioners in one case each in Delhi and Bengalore who raided and seized goods that have supposedly violated the company's trademarks. After getting to know about the trademark infringement by apparel companies, and approaching the court, it had said that Gap is a well-known company and has an established reputation in general public for the trademark. "The act of the defendant in selling apparel under the trademark Gap- is an infringement upon the rights of the plaintiff," the court said.

The court has now issued an ex parte interim order restraining the companies in question from manufacturing, selling or using the Gap trademark and ordered the issue of summons to them returnable on October 12.