Pune Eatery Wins Burger King Trademark Battle

After a 13-year legal battle, a commercial court in Pune has ruled in favor of a local eatery named 'Burger King' against the US-based Burger King Corporation's trademark infringement lawsuit. Judge Sunil Vedpathak dismissed the multinational company's claims for a permanent injunction and damages, stating that the Pune restaurant had been using the 'Burger King' name since 1992, long before the US company entered the Indian market in 2014. The court found no evidence of customer confusion or actual damage to the US company's business. Additionally, the court dismissed a counterclaim by the Pune eatery seeking ₹20 lakh in compensatory damages. The ruling highlights that the local establishment's use of the trademark was both legal and honest due to its continuous use over decades. This decision allows the Pune-based eatery to revert to its original name after temporarily rebranding to 'Burger' during the legal proceedings.