New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has put an end to a 25-year-old trademark battle between global confectionery majors Mars Incorporated and Cadbury (Mondelez India) over the use of the mark ‘Celebrations’, marking the close of one of India’s longest-running legal tussles in the FMCG sector.
According to the reports, the two companies jointly approached the court earlier this month seeking a decree in terms of a mutual settlement, signaling their intent to end the protracted dispute. Under the agreement, Mars agreed to withdraw its Opposition and Rectification proceedings filed before the Trade Marks Registry against Cadbury’s application for the ‘Celebrations’ mark.
In its order, the High Court observed that the case involving “two titans of the confectionery world” had dragged on for more than two decades and lauded both parties for resolving the matter amicably.
“This resolution serves as a reminder that even the most protracted disputes can find resolution when goodwill prevails,” the court noted.
As part of the settlement, both Mars and Cadbury volunteered to distribute chocolates and confectionery worth ₹5 lakh each to students in government and government-aided schools across Delhi.
The court directed that all distributed products must comply with FSSAI standards, be within their shelf life, and supplied only in sealed retail packs. It also urged the Delhi government and school authorities to discourage the availability of high-sugar and high-fat foods within school premises.
The verdict not only brings closure to a long-standing legal standoff between the two confectionery giants but also underscores the significance of amicable resolution and corporate goodwill in India’s evolving intellectual property landscape.
