Delhi HC imposes Rs 30 lakh fine on Google over use of Hindware trademark for AdWords

NEW DELHI: (May 29) The Delhi High Court has directed Google to pay Rs 30 lakh as damages to Hindware for using the sanitaryware major’s trademark as keywords for its AdWords programme.

Justice Mini Pushkarna, while dealing with two lawsuits by Hindware Ltd, held that the use of trademarks as keywords amounted to “unfair advantage” under the Trademarks Act and restrained Google LLC and Google India from using ‘Hindware’ or ‘Hindware Sanitaryware’, ‘Hindware Sanitary’ or ‘Hindware Sanitaryware India’ as part of advertising keywords for its platform.

“This Court awards nominal damages of Rs 15 Lacs only each in the present suits, totalling to Rs 30 Lacs only in favour of the plaintiff. The aforesaid amount shall be paid by the defendants, i.e., Google LLC/Google India within a period of eight weeks,” the court ordered in the judgement dated May 22.