Kerala Court slaps ₹1 crore fine on private dairy Milnna for infringing Milma trademark

A Kerala court has imposed a hefty fine of Rs 1 crore on a private dairy named "Milnna" for infringing the trademark of the well-established cooperative brand, "Milma." The court found that the name and packaging of Milnna were deceptively similar to that of Milma, which is a household name in Kerala. The Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, which owns the Milma brand, had filed a suit arguing that the similar branding was causing confusion among consumers and was an attempt by the private dairy to illegally cash in on Milma's reputation and goodwill. The court's decision to impose such a large fine serves as a strong deterrent against trademark infringement. It underscores the importance of protecting the intellectual property rights of established brands and ensures that consumers are not misled by copycat products.