Summary
In Topland Engines Pvt. Ltd. v. Toplad Pvt. Ltd. (25 September 2026), the Delhi High Court set aside the Regional Director's rejection of Topland's application under Section 16 of the Companies Act, 2013, and held that the company name 'TOPLAD' is too similar to Topland's registered trademark 'TOPLAND'. Toplad was ordered to change its name, and the Regional Director was directed to act within four weeks. The ruling is a reminder that getting a company name approved by the MCA does not protect it if it clashes with someone else's registered trademark.
| Who is affected | Founders choosing a name for a new company or LLP, and trademark owners who find a company registered under a name similar to their brand. |
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| What to do | Before incorporating, search the trademark register as well as the MCA company names, and register your own brand as a trademark. If a new company takes a name similar to your registered mark, Section 16 of the Companies Act lets you apply to have it changed. |
| Source | Delhi High Court order (reported in SpicyIP Weekly Review) |
This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal or tax advice. The court order or official document is the authoritative text. Ask an expert how it applies to you.