Ujala Wins Counterfeit Case

27 Sep 2017

Jyothy Laboratories Ltd issued a press release stating that in a ruling dated 19 September, 2017, the Commercial High Court of the Western Province granted a landmark interim injunction, which was sought by the Indian company, Jyothy Laboratories Ltd. The matter, which was heard before High Court Judge, Mahinda Samayawardhena, was declared to be a ''textbook case of violation of intellectual property rights''.
Jyothy Laboratories Ltd, an Indian multi-product company and leader in local household care industry, has been a victim of mass counterfeiting in Sri Lanka. Its flagship brand Ujala, introduced a dye-based fabric whitener under the names Ujala and Ujala Supreme. Its product has been exported to a number of countries including Sri Lanka, where it has been in the market for well over 20 years, the release added.
Earlier this year, it was found that local companies, Jyothy Laboratories Lanka and Buhary Segu Naina and Buhary Ali Sabuni who were shareholders and directors of Fa Impex Private Limited which imported the Ujala brand liquid blue from the plaintiff in India and sold in Sri Lanka, were illegally importing and manufacturing counterfeit Ujala products and selling them to the local market.
Counsel for the plaintiff was led by Manoj Bandara with Lakshana Perera and Hasitha Gamage who were instructed by Sudath Perera Associates. The plaintiff declared that the local companies infringed upon the copyrighted bottle design and the label of Uijala along with the rights of its trademark name.