Indian Supreme Court Restores Kirloskar Trademark Licensing Rights

India's Supreme Court has restored the ability of Kirloskar Proprietary Limited to license the “Kirloskar” trademark to group companies while a related appeal remains pending before the Bombay High Court.

In a January 2026 order made absolute on September 12, a bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Manmohan stayed the effect of the High Court’s October 2025 modification. The ruling permits the proprietary company to continue granting licenses subject to the outcome of the High Court proceedings.

The dispute arises from internal arrangements within the Kirloskar group over rights to the family name mark. The Supreme Court directed the Bombay High Court to decide the pending appeal expeditiously, preferably within three months, citing the commercial importance of the matter. The court emphasized that its observations should not influence the merits of the underlying case.

All contentions of the parties remain open for determination by the High Court. The interim relief preserves the status quo on licensing until a final decision.

Sources: https://www.bwlegalworld.com/article/supreme-court-restores-kirloskar-group-s-trademark-licensing-rights-seeks-fast-bombay-hc-ruling-587223 https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law