TikTok's 'well-known' trademark bid rejected in India, as court cites ban, China link
By Freny Patel ( June 12, 2025, 07:11 GMT | Insight) -- TikTok's bid for a "well-known" trademark status in India has been rejected by a local court, citing the Indian government's ban on the platform and concerns regarding its ties to China. The Bombay High Court this week affirmed the Assistant Registrar of Trade Marks' decision to reject TikTok's application, setting a significant legal precedent that national security and public interest can override traditional trademark recognition criteria.TikTok's bid for a "well-known" trademark status in India has been rejected by a local court, citing the Indian government's ban on the platform and concerns regarding its ties to China. The Bombay High Court this week affirmed the Assistant Registrar of Trade Marks' decision to reject TikTok's application, setting a significant legal precedent that national security and public interest can override traditional trademark recognition criteria. TikTok, a globally popular short-video application, had challenged an order dated Oct. 31, 2023, that refused its application for inclusion in the list of well-known marks under Rule 124 of the 2017 Trade Mark Rules. The social media company argued that the registrar had failed to properly consider the provisions of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, and its associated rules. During the proceedings, TikTok, represented by Swati Mittal, contended that the registrar's decision was flawed due to a lack of proper reasoning, a misreference to Section 9 instead of the relevant Section 11 of the Trade Marks Act, and an alleged disregard for the extensive material submitted to substantiate TikTok's global popularity and market recognition....
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