Delhi High Court Removes 'Social House' Mark for Non-Use

The Delhi High Court has directed the removal of the 'SOCIAL HOUSE' trademark from the Trade Marks Register on grounds of non-use. Justice Tejas Karia delivered the ruling in proceedings involving Impressario Entertainment and Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., operator of the SOCIAL restaurant chain.

Impressario appealed a decision concerning the mark registered in Class 43 by Vardhaman Choksi. The court found the mark had never been genuinely used for the registered services. It also dismissed 22 rectification petitions filed by Choksi against various Impressario marks containing the word 'SOCIAL'.

The judgment highlighted evidence that Choksi had registered over a hundred internationally recognised trademarks in India without corresponding use. The court described this as a deliberate practice of trademark squatting intended to sell rights at a premium, undermining the register's integrity.

The decision allows Impressario's marks, including 'ODEON SOCIAL', 'COLABA SOCIAL' and others, to remain registered. All issues regarding use and validity were addressed in the April 2026 judgment, reported in detail this week.

Sources: https://lawstreet.co/judiciary/delhi-hc-rules-in-favour-of-impressarios-social-restaurant-chain-in-trademark-dispute-orders-removal-of-social-house-mark https://www.bwlegalworld.com/article/supreme-court-refuses-to-interfere-in-harpic-bottle-trademark-dispute-599146