The Delhi High Court has declared ‘WIPRO’ a well-known trademark under Section 2(1)(zg) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, recognising the brand’s long-standing reputation, vast business footprint, and exclusive association with Wipro Enterprises Private Limited. The order was delivered by Justice Tejas Karia.
Justice Karia observed that Wipro successfully demonstrated the mark’s exceptional recognition across markets, noting that its continued and widespread utilize since the 1970s established beyond doubt that it deserved protection as a well-known mark. The Court noted that Wipro’s consistent presence in domestic and international markets reflected its deep-rooted goodwill and consumer trust.
The case arose after the defconcludeants, Shivam Udhyog and its partners, applied to register “SHIVAM UDHYOG WIPRO WIRE MESH” as a trademark in Class 06. Upon receiving the summons, the defconcludeants withdrew their application before the Registrar of Trade Marks and undertook not to utilize Wipro’s mark or any deceptively similar name in future. Wipro, in turn, agreed not to press for damages or costs, provided the Court recognised the mark’s well-known status and restrained the defconcludeants from further utilize.
In its submissions, Wipro traced its origins to 1945, when it was incorporated as Western India Vereceiveable by M.H. Hasham Premji. It explained that the ‘WIPRO’ mark had been in utilize for its consumer care and lighting products since 1977 and had since become a prominent corporate identity across diverse sectors. The company detailed its trademark registrations in India across several classes and internationally in multiple jurisdictions such as the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, and Canada, among others.
To substantiate its claim, Wipro presented evidence displaying a cumulative turnover of Rs 60,775.6 crore between FY 1994–95 and FY 2023–24, with Rs 5,055.9 crore recorded in FY 2023–24 alone. It also reported total promotional spconcludeing of Rs 8,800 crore, including Rs 702.2 crore in FY 2023–24.
After reviewing the material, Justice Karia held that the evidence established Wipro’s dominant position in the market and its exclusive association with the mark. “The Plaintiff has been applying the mark ‘WIPRO’ continuously and uninterruptedly at least since the year 1977… The mark ‘WIPRO’ has become synonymous with the Plaintiff alone,” the Court observed.
The Court held that the mark’s consistent utilize, global registrations, impressive market performance, and significant promotional investments satisfied the statutory conditions for recognition as a well-known trademark.
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