The Bombay High Court has recently issued an ex-parte order preventing Apollo Tyres from broadcasting an advertisement that allegedly "ridiculed and disparaged" CEAT Tyres. The order, passed by Justice Riyaz Chagla on September 12, prohibited Apollo Tyres from airing a visual commercial (VC) that portrayed CEAT Tyres negatively.
Justice Chagla stated that, based on initial observations, CEAT owns the unique tread design of its CROSSDRIVE AT tyre, which has earned a good reputation. He added that the advertisement in question unfairly compared a worn-out CEAT tyre with a brand-new Apollo tyre, which seemed intended to demean and defame CEAT's CROSSDRIVE AT tyre.
The court also noted that the VC appeared to disparage CEAT’s product, concluding that CEAT had made a strong case for interim relief. The judge emphasized that CEAT would suffer irreparable damage without the relief, while Apollo Tyres, which was not present despite being notified, had no equities in its favor. Consequently, an interim order was granted against Apollo.
CEAT claimed it has developed innovative tread designs for its tyres over time, ensuring durability and performance. In 2020, it introduced the CROSSDRIVE AT tyre, which has been in use since May 2022. On September 4, 2024, CEAT discovered a VC on Apollo's YouTube channel promoting its Apollo Apterra AT2 tyre, where CEAT alleged its CROSSDRIVE AT tyre was unfairly depicted as worn out, with its CEAT logo blurred.
The plaintiff further argued that Apollo's campaign, shared across various platforms like YouTube, X, and Instagram, conveyed that CEAT’s tyres were inferior to Apollo's, damaging its reputation. The court has scheduled a detailed hearing for October 11, while restraining Apollo from airing the VC until then.
Ceat Limited vs Apollo Tyres (COM IPR SUIT (L) NO.28069 OF 2024)
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