American Eagle files trademark infringement case against Pantaloons

US-based Retail Royalty Company has filed a trademark infringement case in the Delhi High Court against Pantaloons Fashion & Retail. According to the company, the Aditya Birla Group-owned brand and logo are deceptively similar to its American Eagle Outfitters brand and the eagle logo.

Retail Royalty is the parent of American Eagle Outfitters brand for youth that operates more than 1,000 stores in the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, China, Japan and several Middle East countries. In India, it sells products including jeans bags and shoes.

This is not the first time that international companies have accused domestic labels of trademark infringement. Recently, American apparel retailer Gap filed a case against two Indian companies in the Delhi High Court for using labels such as Gap In, Gap-2 and Gap Two. Earlier, Spanish brand Zara had accused Chennai-based eatery ‘Zara Tapas Bar’ for using Zara in its name. Justice GP Mittal acknowledging the brand’s reputation asked the restaurant to change its name. And a district court in Delhi ruled in favour of Bengaluru-based Aikya Global after furniture maker IKEA wanted the former to stop using phonetically similar company name.