Introduction:

In a recent case before the Delhi High Court, Razorpay Software Private Limited filed a suit against unknown entities, collectively referred to as John Doe, for unauthorized use of the “Razorpay” trademark. The payment gateway service provider accused the defendants of perpetuating fraud by falsely representing themselves as recruiters of Razorpay, offering part-time jobs to the public. The defendants allegedly ran a financial scam on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram, using the Razorpay trademark without consent.

Arguments of Both Sides:

Razorpay, represented by counsel Ms. Sneha Jain and others, argued that the defendants’ unauthorized use of the Razorpay trademark led to confusion among the public and perpetuated financial fraud. On the other hand, counsel for the defendants, including Ms. Anushka Sharda and others, presented arguments challenging the allegations and seeking to defend the unknown entities accused in the suit.

Court’s Judgment:

Justice Sanjeev Narula granted an ex-parte ad interim injunction in favor of Razorpay, restraining the defendants from using the Razorpay trademark. The court directed various actions, including blocking WhatsApp and Telegram channels/accounts, suspending domain names, freezing bank accounts, and disabling UPI IDs used by the unknown entities. Additionally, Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) was ordered to remove or block Facebook pages mentioned in the plaint and disclose details of the page holders.