Rasna sues 3 film firms for brand misuse

AHMEDABAD: City-based soft drink brand

Rasna Pvt Ltd

has sued three

film production firms

for Rs1 crore for using its brand name in the title of an upcoming Gujarati film –

Rasna No Dabbo.

Upon the complaint from Rasna’s owner

Piruz Khambhatta

that the film not only infringes upon its trade name, but also defames it, a commercial court in the city has restrained the filmmakers from releasing the movie at least till July 17, when further hearing on the trademark suit is scheduled.

Rasna’s counsel Jatin Trivedi said that the company has issues with the film not only because it uses the registered trade name without permission, but the way the film’s title is mentioned in its poster which was released on June 18. “Because the word ‘No’ in ‘Rasna No Dabbo’ is written in small fonts, it is read as Rasna Dabbo, which is defamatory,” Advocate Trivedi told TOI. Rasna has sued three production firms involved in this movie – Saptarishi Cine Vision Pvt Ltd from Delhi, Veronica Productions Ltd from Rajkot and Purple Bull Entertainment Pvt Ltd from Mumbai – along with producers Kshitiz Bharadwaj and Sushil Pandey. Rasna has sought directions from the court to restrain release of the film.

During a hearing on Saturday, an advocate representing the film production companies appeared before the court and assured that the film will not be released. After a brief hearing, the court said that the film should not be released at least till further hearing, on July 17.

Meanwhile, Rasna has filed two other litigations alleging infringement on its trademark rights by eateries in Ahmedabad. It has taken objection to a food joint at Bopal-Ghuma Road, Rasna Bhaji-Pav & Restaurant, and one Rasna Hotels Pvt Ltd in Maninagar area.