HC Rejects Prada Lawsuit Over Kolhapuri Chappal Design Rip-Off
Court dismisses PIL against Prada, questioning advocates’ right to sue over alleged misuse of iconic Kolhapuri chappal design.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by six Pune-based advocates against Italian luxury brand Prada, accusing it of unauthorized use of the iconic Kolhapuri chappal design. A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne questioned the advocates’ legal standing, stating they were neither the aggrieved parties nor the registered proprietors of the footwear’s Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
“What is your statutory right? You are not the owner of this Kolhapuri chappal. What is the public interest?” the court asked, emphasizing that only the GI tag’s registered proprietor could pursue legal action. The bench further noted that infringement disputes cannot be resolved through a PIL and require a suit filed by the affected party, with evidence to be examined.
The PIL, filed earlier this month, alleged that Prada’s spring/summer collection featured toe-ring sandals, priced at Rs 1 lakh per pair, that were “deceptively similar” to the GI-protected Kolhapuri chappals, a cultural symbol of Maharashtra. The advocates demanded that Prada be restrained from commercializing these sandals, issue a public apology, and compensate Indian artisans for economic and reputational damages.
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Senior counsel Ravi Kadam, representing Prada, argued that a GI tag functions as a trademark and opposed the PIL, reinforcing that such disputes belong in a civil suit. The petitioners claimed Prada privately acknowledged drawing inspiration from Indian artisans but failed to formally apologize or compensate the artisan community, calling it a “superficial attempt to deflect criticism.”
The plea also sought an inquiry against Prada for violating the rights of GI-registered proprietors and urged Maharashtra authorities to protect the artisans’ community. It requested interim damages and a temporary injunction to stop Prada from marketing or exporting the sandals.
The court, however, dismissed the PIL, stating it would provide a detailed order later, leaving the advocates’ claims unaddressed and reinforcing that only the rightful proprietors can challenge such alleged infringements.
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