Bombay High Court Sets Aside Denial To Register Yamaha's 'WR' Trademark, Says Registrar Must Give Reasoned Order For Pre-Acceptance Advertisement

The Bombay High Court has quashed an order from the Registrar of Trademarks that had refused to register the "Yamaha" trademark for certain goods like clothing and stationery. The Registrar had denied the registration on the grounds that it might cause confusion with Yamaha's primary business of automobiles and musical instruments. However, the High Court observed that Yamaha is a globally recognized "well-known" trademark, which entitles it to a higher degree of protection across different classes of goods and services. The court held that the refusal by the Registrar was arbitrary and lacked proper reasoning. It remanded the matter back to the Registrar with a clear direction to reconsider the application and proceed with the registration process, acknowledging the extensive reputation and goodwill associated with the Yamaha brand, which justifies its use on a wider range of products.