Indian Court Orders Amazon to Pay $39 Million in Landmark Trademark Case

An Indian court has ordered an Amazon unit to pay $39 million for trademark infringement of "Beverly Hills Polo Club." The ruling is considered a landmark in India for damages against a U.S. firm. The decision highlights the need for rigorous trademark compliance on e-commerce platforms.

An Indian court issued a landmark ruling ordering Amazon to pay $39 million for infringing on the "Beverly Hills Polo Club" trademark. Garments with the disputed branding were sold on Amazon's India website, according to court documents released on Wednesday.

The trademark case began in 2020 after Lifestyle Equities, owner of the BHPC trademark, accused Amazon's site of listing apparel bearing a similar logo at lower prices. The Delhi High Court's 85-page judgment, which included photos showing little distinction between the logos, highlighted Amazon's alleged awareness of BHPC's exclusive rights.

The decision marks one of the highest damages awarded in an Indian trademark suit. Critics demand that the Indian government address Amazon's "predatory" business practices. Amazon's corporate entities in both the U.S. and India have not commented on the ruling, leaving the enforcement of this judgment in the U.S. in question.