Sat 04 May 2024:
Elon Musk’s automaker Tesla has filed a lawsuit in New Delhi against an Indian battery manufacturer, alleging that that company is violating its trademark by using the name “Tesla Power” to advertise its goods. The firm is demanding damages as well as a permanent injunction against the company.
Tesla claimed at a hearing at the Delhi High Court this week that the Indian company had continued advertising its products with the “Tesla Power” brand despite a cease-and-desist notice given in April 2022.
During the hearing, Tesla Power India Pvt Ltd, an Indian company, argued its main business is to make “lead acid batteries” and it has no intention of making electric vehicles.
The judge allowed the Indian firm three weeks to submit written responses after it handed over a set of documents in support of its defence, the court record shows.
The case comes after Musk cancelled his planned visit to India on April 21 to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Days later, Musk made a surprise visit to China and made progress towards rolling out its advanced driver assistance package, a move that many Indian commentators called a snub.
Musk’s Tesla is incorporated in Delaware, and it has accused the Indian company of using trade names “Tesla Power” and “Tesla Power USA”.
The court record included screenshots of a website that showed that Tesla Power USA LLC was also headquartered in Delaware and had been “acknowledged for being a pioneer and leader in introducing affordable batteries” with “a very strong presence in India”.
A Tesla Power representative told Reuters it had been present in India much before Musk’s Tesla and had all government approvals.
“We have never claimed to be related to Elon Musk’s Tesla,” Tesla Power’s Manoj Pahwa said.
Tesla told the judge it discovered the Indian company was using its brand name in 2022 and has unsuccessfully tried to stop it from doing so, forcing it to file the lawsuit.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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