High Court in Bombay orders a temporary halt on Meta Platforms distributing a video featuring Patanjali Foods Limited's trademark MAHAKOSH.
Patanjali Foods Limited, a manufacturer and marketer of edible oils, has taken Meta Platforms Inc to court over the unauthorized use of its trademark "MAHAKOSH" on Facebook. The dispute, which began in April 2023, remains ongoing as of 2025.
In April, a video containing disparaging remarks against Patanjali Foods' product and its trademark MAHAKOSH was circulating on Facebook. The company issued cease and desist notices to Meta Platforms, requesting the deletion of the video from the platform. However, Meta Platforms did not respond, leading Patanjali Foods to array Defendant No. 3 in the nature of a John Doe action.
The video was also alleged to spread misleading and false information about Patanjali Foods' trademark bearing product.
In response to the legal action, Google objected to the grant of relief. However, Patanjali Foods decided not to press the relief against Google. Conversely, the Court's ad-interim relief is to be operated against Meta Platforms and Defendant No. 3. The Court has not issued any relief against Google in this case.
The Court has directed Meta Platforms to take down the URLs of the Impugned video. Furthermore, the Court granted a temporary injunction in favor of Patanjali Foods, restraining the Defendants from infringing the company's registered trademarks, including 'MAHAKOSH FUTURE FIT'.
The case is currently under judicial review, with both parties presenting their arguments. Patanjali Foods is seeking an injunction to prevent further use of the trademark on Facebook and damages for the alleged infringement. Meta Platforms, on the other hand, has argued that the use of "MAHAKOSH" falls within the permissible limits of social media platform operations and denies any direct infringement.
The application has been listed for further consideration on 27 June, 2023. For the latest developments, monitoring official court records or statements from the companies involved would provide the most accurate information.
You can find the Court order by clicking this link.
In the ongoing dispute, Patanjali Foods Limited is seeking an injunction against Meta Platforms and Defendant No. 3 to prevent further use of the trademark 'MAHAKOSH' on Facebook, also requesting damages for the alleged infringement. This legal action, involving business, technology, and finance, is centred around the unauthorized use of Patanjali Foods' trademark on their platform.
