The Bombay High Court has granted interim relief to CEAT Tyres and prohibited Apollo Tyres from airing an advertisement that ‘ridiculed and disparaged’ CEAT Tyres.
A lawsuit was filed against Apollo Tyres by CEAT, alleging that an advertisement for the company’s variant, ‘APTERRA AT2,’ posted on YouTube, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Facebook, showcasing the ‘CROSSDRIVE AT’ in a negative light. CEAT first came across the ad on September 4 when the commercial was posted on YouTube, as per reports.
During the hearing, single-judge RI Chagla observed that the intent of the advertisement was to ‘denigrate and slander’ CEAT’s tyres, and that the harm caused by the ad was irreparable.
The court ordered Apollo to remove and cease sharing or broadcasting the advertisement on any platform with immediate effect. It also prohibited the company from violating CEAT’s trademark by using the words ‘SETH’ and ‘SEE-IT’ as shown in the advertisement.
Additionally, any visual representation or terms similar to CEAT’s registered trademark are also prohibited.
Further, the court also restricted the company from making statements that could disparage CEAT’s products.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 11.
