The Delhi high court on April 30 directed Dharma Productions to add a disclaimer at the start of its Alia Bhatt starrer Jigra (2024) stating that it does noit intend to disparage Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders while rejecting MSF’s trademark infringement suit.
Justice Tejas Karia pronounced the judgement, stating, “The plaintiff (MSF) has not been able to establish any unfair advantage to the defendants (Dharma Productions) by the use of the plaintiff’s mark in the film. Accordingly, the plaintiff is not entitled to the interim injunction restraining the defendants from using the plaintiff’s mark in the impugned film. However, the defendant shall display the acknowledgement at the start of the impugned film as directed above within a period of four weeks.”
The dispute arose in 2024 when a legal suit was filed by MSF against Dharma Productions over the use of its name and identity in Jigra. MSF opposed the use of its trademark in a scene depicting the film’s characters impersonating MSF members to illegally cross international borders. The organisation argued that such depiction was unauthorised, disparaging, and likely to dilute its trademark while harming its credibility as a neutral humanitarian body.
The case was filed in the Delhi high court, with MSF asserting jurisdiction on the basis that the film was exhibited in Delhi. Justice Mini Pushkarna had referred the matter to mediation, directing both parties to explore an amicable resolution before further judicial proceedings. After the mediation efforts fell through, the dispute was referred again to the court.