Supreme Court Stays Order on 'Burger King' Trademark Dispute

The Supreme Court has temporarily stayed a Bombay High Court order, allowing a Pune eatery to use the 'Burger King' name pending further legal proceedings. This follows an appeal by the US-based Burger King Corporation against the high court's earlier order which restrained the Pune eatery's use of the name.

The Supreme Court has issued a stay on a Bombay High Court order that prevented a Pune eatery from using the trademark 'Burger King' until a lawsuit by the U.S. fast-food chain is resolved. The bench, comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, has notified Burger King Corporation about the appeal challenging the lower court's decision.

According to the Supreme Court's March 7 directive, the stay will remain effective until further orders, though it encourages the high court to expedite the processing of the appeal. The original suit filed by Burger King was dismissed. However, Burger King argues that the Pune eatery's use of its name has caused significant damage to its brand reputation.

The issue began in 2024 when Burger King filed for an interim injunction after the Pune court dismissed its trademark infringement case against the local eatery. While the high court initially extended the interim stay, the Supreme Court's intervention now pauses the effect of the high court's restraining order.

(With inputs from agencies.)