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Delhi HC rejects Parle products’ appeal in trademark dispute with Avon Agro
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Saturday, 14 March, 2026, 15 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The Delhi High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Parle Products challenging the registration of the “20-20” trademark in favour of Avon Agro Industries, marking a setback for the FMCG major in a long-running trademark dispute.
The court upheld the earlier decision of the Registrar of Trademarks, which had allowed Avon Agro Industries to register the “20-20” mark for products including coffee, tea, biscuits and related food items. Parle Products had opposed the registration, arguing that the use of the mark could create confusion in the market due to its association with Parle’s existing products.
However, the High Court ruled that Parle’s prior use or registration of the mark did not automatically prevent Avon Agro from claiming rights over the trademark in the specified categories. The court observed that the existence of earlier use alone cannot bar another company from seeking registration if it can establish legitimate rights over the mark.
Parle Products had filed the appeal after the Registrar of Trademarks granted the registration to Avon Agro, contending that the mark “20-20” was already associated with its brand portfolio and could potentially mislead consumers in the marketplace.
Rejecting these arguments, the court supported the registrar’s decision, stating that Avon Agro Industries was entitled to register the trademark and use it for its products. The ruling effectively clears the path for Avon Agro to commercially use the “20-20” mark across the approved product categories.
Legal experts say the judgment highlights the importance of establishing distinctiveness and clear ownership in trademark disputes, particularly in India’s highly competitive food and FMCG sectors.
For Avon Agro Industries, the decision strengthens its intellectual property rights and could help expand its presence in the packaged food segment. Meanwhile, the ruling underscores the challenges large FMCG companies face in protecting brand identifiers in a crowded and evolving consumer market.
The case reflects the increasing number of trademark disputes in India’s fast-growing food and consumer goods industry, where brand identity plays a crucial role in market differentiation and consumer recall.
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