Bombay High Court to hear Lodha trademark dispute between brothers Abhishek and Abhinandan Lodha on January 31 | File Photo
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court (HC) is likely to hear on January 31 an application filed by Macrotech Developers Ltd, led by Abhishek Lodha, seeking an injunction against his younger brother Abhinandan Lodha’s real estate firm, House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), from using the trademark ‘Lodha’.
Justice Arif Doctor on Monday had observed that it was a primarily a dispute between two brothers and suggested that brothers Abhishek Lodha and Abhinandan Lodha try to amicably resolve their issue over the use of “Lodha” trademark.
The brothers were to inform the court on Tuesday whether they were willing to settle the dispute amicably. If the parties were agreeable then the court said that it would appoint a former chief justice as mediator and an endeavour shall be made to complete the proceedings as expeditiously as possible.
However, on Tuesday the bench of Justice Doctor was unavailable and hence the matter could not be taken up for hearing. It is now expected to be listed for hearing on January 31.
Abhishek Lodha- promoted Macrotech Developers Ltd has filed a suit, early this month, against Abhinandan Lodha’s real estate firm, HoABL, claiming that the name ‘Lodha’ was their trademark and no one else could use it. The suit sought Rs5,000 crore in damages from HoABL.
Macrotech had filed an interim application seeking a perpetual injunction against the defendants from infringing its trademark “Lodha”.
Macrotech’s suit contends that it is the flagship company of the Lodha Group, a leading real estate developer established in the early 1980s, offering properties under the ‘Lodha’ brand. The company claimed ownership of the ‘Lodha’ trademark and other related registered trademarks.
The Lodha brothers, sons of BJP leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, had an internal agreement until 2015 allowing all companies within the group to use the trademark. Abhinandan separated from the group that year to launch his own business. The terms of separation were formalized in a 2017 Family Settlement Agreement and a subsequent agreement in 2023, under which Abhinandan’s venture was named House of Abhinandan Lodha.
Macrotech, however, asserted that it was not part of the 2023 agreement and is not bound by its terms. The company stated that it had never granted permission to Abhinandan’s firm to use the trademark.
