Delhi HC slaps Rs 5.5 lakh fine on cola company

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today slapped a fine of Rs 5.5 lakh on an Indian soft drinks manufacturing company for infringing the trademark of the soft drink '7up' made by the US-based company Pepsico Inc.

Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul refrained Sunrise Beverages from using the trade mark '7up' to manufacture, bottle or for any other use.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 5.5 lakh for damages caused to the petitioner for using their trade mark.

Pepsico Inc had filed a suit in the High Court seeking to prevent the Indian company from using their renowned brand '7up' by changing it to '7th up'.

Pepsico lawyer Pratibha Singh said Sunrise Beverages was using their name by a slight dilution and infringing their copyright.

She said the defendants cannot be allowed to create distinction by addition of alphabets 'th'. She claimed that the name '7up' was invented by them and is therefore entitled to a high degree of protection.

UNI