Bombay HC restrains ‘Bislie’ water maker in Bisleri trademark case

MUMBAI: A bottle of water has landed in hot water. The Bombay High Court has temporarily restrained a Karnataka-based packaged drinking water manufacturer from using the mark “Bislie”, finding it prima facie deceptively similar to the registered “Bisleri” trademark of Bisleri International.

Justice Madhav J. Jamdar was hearing an interim application filed by Bisleri International Private Limited against Belaguli Mahalingegowda Kirankumar, proprietor of Kalabyraveshwara Mineral Water Industry.

The dispute centres on packaged drinking water sold under the “Bislie” mark. Bisleri sought an injunction preventing the manufacturer from producing, distributing, marketing or selling water under the disputed mark, along with restrictions on the use of similar artwork, trade dress and bottle designs.

According to the court proceedings, Bisleri’s investigators identified the allegedly infringing products during a market surveillance exercise in the last week of May 2026. The manufacturing unit was located in Channarayapattana, Karnataka.

Bisleri holds registrations for its trademark across several categories and also has copyright registrations covering its original artistic works used on its labels.

The court had earlier, on June 11, passed an ex-parte ad-interim order against the manufacturer and appointed a Court Receiver with powers to search and seize products carrying the disputed mark, along with labels, packaging material, machinery and other related items.

A raid was subsequently carried out in accordance with the order.

The court’s comparison of the competing marks and packaging formed a key part of its assessment. It found that “Bislie” appeared to closely imitate “Bisleri”, with changes made to the lettering to arrive at the disputed mark.

The similarities extended beyond the name. The court also found substantial similarities in the artwork, colour scheme, placement of elements, overall get-up, layout and style of the competing labels.

The bottle design was also challenged, with Bisleri alleging that the shape mark had been copied or substantially imitated.

At the August 7 hearing, the manufacturer did not appear despite having been served with the proceedings. An affidavit confirming service had also been filed.

The court noted that the Additional Special Receiver’s Report supported the substance of Bisleri’s claims. Since the defendant had neither appeared nor filed an affidavit in response, the allegations contained in the interim application, plaint and leave petition remained uncontroverted at this stage.

The court consequently allowed Bisleri’s interim application and continued the protection against the disputed mark.

The manufacturer has been restrained, pending the final disposal of the suit, from manufacturing, distributing, printing, packaging, stocking, supplying, marketing, selling or offering packaged drinking water under “BISLIE” or any mark or label identical or deceptively similar to “BISLERI”.

The order also covers the disputed artwork and trade dress, as well as the bottle design or shape mark alleged to be almost identical, substantially similar or an obvious imitation of Bisleri’s bottle design.

The Bombay High Court also disposed of the Court Receiver’s Report and the related leave petition.

The order gives Bisleri continued protection over not just its name but the wider visual identity built around its packaged water products. For the defendant, that means the disputed mark, packaging and bottle design are now off the shelf while the trademark dispute proceeds.