Delhi High Court Bars Resort From Using Name Close to ANANTARA
Photo: Michelle-Maria / Pixabay
The Delhi High Court has granted interim protection to the ANANTARA hotel brand of Thailand's Minor Hotels Group. In an interim order dated 27 October 2026, Justice Tejas Karia restrained a local resort and banquet business from using "ANTARA" and "ANTARA RESORT & BANQUETS" for hospitality services.
The suit was brought by MHG IP Holding Singapore Pte Ltd and related group companies. They told the court they have used ANANTARA since 2000 and hold Indian registrations covering hospitality, resort and spa services, across several classes, including 35, 43 and 44. They said they found the defendant's business in April 2026 promoting resort, banquet, wedding and event services on social media and wedding booking platforms. A cease-and-desist notice and later reminders went unanswered.
Justice Karia found a prima facie case of infringement and called it a case of "triple identity": confusingly close marks, services that overlap, and a shared customer base reached through the same channels. He held that a consumer of average intelligence and imperfect recollection could easily be confused. He also described the defendant's adoption of the mark as prima facie dishonest and an attempt to trade on the plaintiffs' goodwill. The balance of convenience favoured the plaintiffs, who faced irreparable harm without an injunction.
The order bars the defendant and anyone acting for it from using ANTARA, ANTARA RESORT & BANQUETS or any deceptively similar mark for hospitality services. According to the plaintiffs, the business was promoted on Instagram, Facebook and wedding platforms such as WedMeGood and WeddingWire. The court also exempted the plaintiffs from mandatory pre-institution mediation under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, and gave the defendant 30 days from receiving the summons to file a written statement. The case returns to court on 8 February 2027. The findings are preliminary and may change once the defendant is heard.
For hospitality brands, including those active in Indonesia and ASEAN, the order shows how quickly Indian courts will act when a shorter version of a well-known name appears on wedding and event platforms.
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