In the case of Hindustan Unilever Limited v. RSPL
Limited, underlining the fine line between comparative
advertising and defamation, the Delhi High Court passed an interim
order involving an aggressive advertising campaign that allegedly
disparaged the iconic detergent brand Surf Excel. The
Court's observations reiterate the evolving boundaries of
advertising ethics, trademark protection, and brand personality
under Indian IP jurisprudence.
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), one of India's largest
FMCG companies, approached the Delhi High Court seeking an
injunction against RSPL Ltd., the manufacturer of Ghadi
detergent. The grievance stemmed from a series of four television
and digital commercials released by Ghadi in June 2025 for its
'Ghadi' detergent powder. HUL alleged that these ads
indirectly targeted its Surf Excel product and deployed
derogatory language and misleading inferences that tarnished its
brand reputation.
