Delhi High Court Allows Patanjali to Use “Why Settle for Ordinary Chyawanprash?” in Ads

The Delhi High Court permitted Patanjali Ayurved to continue using the tagline “Why settle for ordinary Chyawanprash?” in its advertisement, while removing any references to Dabur’s “40 herbs” composition, which were considered disparaging. The Court held that the remaining phrase constitutes “puffery”, permissible under advertising law, and does not amount to unlawful disparagement of a competitor. This decision strikes a balance between protecting competitors from false advertising and permitting marketing creativity. It reinforces that comparative advertising is allowed within legal limits, emphasizing the distinction between legitimate promotional claims and actionable disparagement. The ruling impacts the conduct of FMCG companies in India regarding advertisement content, competitor comparisons, and intellectual property considerations in marketing.