Delhi High Court restrains Ravi Mohan Studios from using “BRO CODE” for title of upcoming film

The Delhi High Court has passed an interim order restraining the film production house of actor Ravi Mohan from using "BRO CODE” for an upcoming film [Indospirit Beverages v. Ravi Mohan Studios Private Limited]..The order was passed on a trademark suit filed by Indospirit Beverages Private Limited, which sells the popular carbonated wine-in-a-pint beverage of the same name.Justice Tejas Karia held that the Ravi Mohan Studios' use of an identical mark for a film title was likely to create consumer confusion and erode the goodwill and reputation associated with Indospirit’s flagship product.“A prima facie case is made out by the Plaintiff (Indospirit) that the Plaintiff’s Mark has been used in an identical manner in the title of the Defendant’s (Ravi Mohan Studios) film without any authorization… which amounts to infringement and is also likely to create confusion in the minds of consumers… likely to cause irreparable injury to the Plaintiff,” the Court said in its October 14 order. .Indospirit told the Court that it launched its “BROCODE” beverage in 2015 and has since built a formidable market presence. The company’s trademark is registered in multiple classes, including 32 and 33 for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.Indospirit said the BROCODE brand had evolved into a widely recognized cultural identifier through marketing, digital content, and collaborations. In 2025, the company expanded into entertainment by launching “BroCode Roast” on YouTube, which garnered over 200 million views, and a music video titled “BroCode: Onam Ulsavam Song.”In September 2025, Indospirits discovered that Ravi Mohan Studios was promoting a film under the title “BRO CODE.” Despite meetings, follow-up emails, and a cease-and-desist notice dated October 4, 2025, the studio allegedly continued to release promotional material using the mark.Representing Indospirits, Senior Advocate Chander M Lall argued that the continued use of "BRO CODE" for the film amounted to trademark infringement and an unauthorised attempt to ride on the goodwill garnered by Indospirits..Ravi Mohan Studios' counsel countered that Indospirit did not have registration of the mark in Class 41 (covering entertainment services), and Indospirit's pending trademark application for “BROCODE ROAST” conferred no enforceable right. The production house further relied on an interim injunction it obtained from the Madras High Court on October 3, 2025, which restrained Indospirit from issuing “groundless threats” over the allegations of trademark infringement..Justice Karia rejected that contention, holding that under Section 142(2) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, an action for groundless threats ceases once a suit for trademark infringement is filed. The Madras High Court’s interim order, therefore, would not prevent the Delhi High Court from granting relief, Justice Karia ruled. The High Court held that Indospirit’s BROCODE mark has a “strong and exclusive association” with the company, and that the use of an identical title by Ravi Mohan Studios was likely to cause confusion and irreparable injury to Indospirit’s goodwill and reputation..Finding the balance of convenience in Indospirit’s favour, the Court restrained Ravi Mohan Studios, its officers, and agents from using, adopting, reproducing, broadcasting, promoting, publishing, displaying, communicating, selling, offering for sale, or otherwise exploiting the BROCODE mark or any deceptively similar variant in connection with its upcoming film, trailer, teaser, poster, or social media content.However, Justice Karia clarified that the studio can continue producing the film, as long as these directions are complied with..The Court directed the studio to file its reply within four weeks, with a rejoinder by Indospirits to be filed thereafter, before the next hearing on December 23, 2025..Lall was briefed by Advocates Ankur Sangal, Aditya Ganju, Ankit Arvind, Shilpi Sinha, Priyanka Jaiswal, Saumanyu Sethi and Nishesh Gupta from Khaitan & Co. .Ravi Mohan Studios was represented by Advocates Karthikei Balan, Vishnu Kumar and Sidhant Verma..[Read Order]