The Delhi High Court has restrained Dabur India Limited from selling its cooling hair oil in packaging that closely resembles Emami’s popular Navratna Ayurvedic Oil. The court said that Dabur’s product packaging was too similar in overall appearance and could mislead consumers into believing that it was associated with Emami.
Emami approached the court claiming that Dabur’s “Cool King Thanda Tel” copied the distinctive look of Navratna Oil, which has been sold in the same packaging style for decades. According to Emami, the similar colour scheme, bottle design and use of cooling-related imagery could confuse buyers, especially since Navratna Oil is a well-known and widely used product in the cooling oil segment.
Dabur argued that the design elements used in its packaging were common to the category and that no company can claim exclusive rights over colours or images linked to cooling oils. It also said that its brand name was clearly visible, making it easy for consumers to distinguish between the two products.
However, the High Court did not accept Dabur’s argument at this stage. The court observed that while individual elements like colour or images may be common, the overall combination and presentation of these elements in Navratna Oil has become strongly associated with Emami over the years. The court held that Dabur’s packaging was deceptively similar and could take unfair advantage of Emami’s established brand reputation.
As a result, the court passed an interim order restraining Dabur from using the disputed packaging until the case is finally decided. The ruling reinforces the importance of distinctive packaging in consumer products and sends a clear message that brands cannot closely imitate the overall look of a competing product in a way that may confuse consumers.
