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Classic Legends Loses Its Rights to Yezdi Brand, Says HC: Company Responds

Published at January 9, 2023 by BikeJunction

Classic Legends has been ordered by the Karnataka High Court to cease using the Yezdi trademark because Ideal Jawa motorcycles are its owner.

According to a recent ruling by the Karnataka High Court, Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd. owns the Yezdi brand, and Boman R. Irani of the Rustomjee Group, Classic Legends, and Mahindra & Mahindra are not permitted to use it. As a result, the Registrar of Trademarks in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Ahmedabad has revoked all trademark and registration certificates.

According to Justice SR Krishna Kumar, the trademarks of Ideal Jawa Bikes, which are in liquidation, will all remain with the court. Additionally, the court ordered Classic Legends to reimburse Ideal Jawa for any profits they generated from using the Yezdi trademark. Irani and Classic Legends have been ordered to give the official liquidator Rs 10 lakh. Boman Irani is one of the shareholders in Classic Legends, which brought back motorbike names like Jawa and Yezdi.

However, the court postponed this decision for a month in order to give those who had been wronged time to appeal it. According to Classic Legends, sales and manufacturing of Yezdi Bikes won’t be halted.

“Mr. Irani could not have obtained registration of ‘Yezdi’ during the process of winding up. The conduct of Mr. Irani in obtaining registration of the marks is in bad faith and amounts to misappropriation of the assets of the company,” since Ideal Jawa is in liquidation, the court pointed out that by choosing not to renew the trademark, the company has not forfeited its ownership of it.

In response to the most recent Karnataka High Court ruling, Classic Legends Pvt Ltd issued the following statement:

“The order is held in abeyance and the company is seeking legal advice on the matter. The company will be filing an appeal against the order shortly and is optimistic of securing favourable relief. In the interim, manufacturing and sale of motorcycles will continue, subject to orders of the Appellate Court.”