Madras HC restrains TVS from making, selling 'Flame 125'

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Saturday restrained TVS Motor Company from manufacturing, marketing and selling its bike 'TVS Flame 125' in the ongoing patent infringement case with rival Bajaj Auto.

In an interim injunction, Justice P Jothimani granted the stay order on a petition by Bajaj Auto, which claims to have patented the technology used in Flame 125.

BAL had also sought a direction from the court to restrain TVS from manufacturing, marketing and selling the bike.

The judge also dismissed a petition filed by TVS to restrain Bajaj from interfering with the manufacture and sale of its new bike.

On February 4, the High Court reserved orders on the petitions filed by the two over allegations of infringement of patent rights by TVS.

Originally, TVS Motor Company filed a petition, seeking to restrain Bajaj from issuing groundless threats to it. Bajaj had later impleaded itself in the case.

A single judge bench had directed maintenance of status quo on bookings for the new bike. However, on an appeal from TVS Motor, a division bench had stayed the single judge's order.

Against this, Bajaj filed a Special Leave Petition. The Supreme Court had on January 18 asked TVS Motor not to book further orders for its new bike and directed the single judge to hear the case on January 29.

Accordingly, the petition was posted for hearing on that day and arguments commenced.

In its suit, Bajaj alleged that TVS Motor had infringed its patent rights by copying key features of its patented technology.