LI Network
Published on: December 07, 2023 at 11:20 IST
The Delhi High Court has ruled in favor of CNN news channel in a trademark infringement lawsuit against a Lucknow-based news website, City News Network.
Justice C Hari Shankar has restrained the defendant entity from using the marks “CNN City News Network” or “CNN.”
The court directed City News Network to remove its website and three social media pages. Additionally, the court ordered the defendant to pay ₹7 lakhs in costs within four weeks.
Cable News Network INC initiated the lawsuit, alleging that City News Network infringed on its well-known trademark “CNN.” Although the matter was settled with another entity, City News Network remained unrepresented.
The court agreed with CNN’s claim that the Lucknow-based entity was using its marks for similar services, asserting CNN’s entitlement to a monopoly on the use of the acronym “CNN” for news channels or related services.
Justice Shankar decreed the suit in favor of CNN, stating that City News Network’s marks clearly infringed CNN’s registered trademarks as per the Trade Marks Act.
The court highlighted the textual similarity between the marks and emphasized that a lay viewer could associate the mark “CNN” with the plaintiff.
The use of “CITY NEWS NETWORK” by the defendant further increased the likelihood of confusion among consumers. The decision establishes the potential for confusion in the minds of average consumers, supporting CNN’s claim of trademark infringement.
Case Title: CABLE NEWS NETWORK INC v. CITY NEWS NETWORK & ORS.