Burger King Loses 13-Year Trademark Battle to Pune Restaurant Over Shared Name

Global fast-food giant Burger King has lost a protracted 13-year legal battle over its trademark against a local restaurant in Pune, India.

The dispute revolved around the use of the name "Burger King," which both the American corporation and the Pune-based eatery share.

The Court dismissed the lawsuit filed by Burger King Corporation in 2011, which sought a permanent injunction against trademark infringement and ₹20 lakh in damages from the local restaurant's owners.

The Court observed that the Pune-based restaurant had been using the 'Burger King' name since 1991-92, while the U.S. company only began operating in India in 2014.

In its ruling, the Court highlighted that Burger King Corporation had "miserably failed" to prove that the local restaurant had infringed on its trademark, noting that there was no evidence of customer confusion or any actual harm to the company's business.

As a result, the Court rejected the company's claims for damages and a permanent injunction.