The COVID-19 lockdown in almost every country keeping people in
confinement did not deter two leading FMCG contenders approach the
Bombay High court.
In the last week of March 2020, the Bombay High Court saw its
first COVID-19 related misleading advertisement dispute as the
court heard a suit filed by Hindustan Unilever Limited
("Plaintiff") for disparagement and infringement of
trademark/copyright against Reckitt Benckiser (India) Private
Limited ("Defendant") alleging that the Defendant
displayed an advertisement of their product "Dettol"
conveying that the Plaintiff's product "Lifebuoy" is
ineffective for Covid-19.
Brief Facts of the case:
The advertisement clearly stated that the Defendant's
"Dettol Hand Wash" is better as compared to other soap
bars when used for washing hands, which is a necessary precaution
for tackling COVID-19. First, the Plaintiff claimed that the
Defendant's "Dettol Hand Wash" advertisement
disparaged and blurred the image of the
