The Delhi High Court has stepped in to stop Rupa Publications India from printing or selling its compact “coat-pocket” edition of the Indian Constitution. The court ruled that the book’s design looks too much like the popular red-and-black versions made by Eastern Book Company (EBC), raising risks of consumer confusion over trade dress infringement.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, in a single-judge bench, pointed out key similarities: the same color scheme, text layout, font style, gilt edges, book cover color, and even embossed gold details. “Both companies target the same buyers through similar channels,” the judge noted, adding that this setup creates a high chance of mix-ups for everyday shoppers.
The court granted an interim injunction, slamming Rupa for copying EBC’s layout without adding any fresh creativity. To the average reader with a fuzzy memory, Rupa’s version could easily pass as EBC’s, potentially fooling people about the book’s true source, the order stated.
EBC, which has offered these handy “coat-pocket” bare acts since 2009, filed the lawsuit claiming Rupa ripped off its signature style—including the black-and-red cover, gold leafing, and unique fonts. They argued Rupa showed bad faith by trying to cash in on EBC’s strong reputation and even switched its own red-white logo to a golden one in the exact same spot, hinting at an intent to “pass off” its products as EBC’s.
EBC shared impressive stats to back its case: They’ve poured more than Rs 75 lakh into marketing these editions and sold over 104,805 copies since 2010. A quick check of Rupa’s website showed the company doesn’t sell any other legal books—just these coat-pocket Constitution versions—making the copying even more suspicious.
The impact hit hard for EBC. In September 2024, a big order for 18,000 copies fell through after Rupa pitched its edition as a cheaper twin to EBC’s, the company told the court.
Drawing on past rulings about protecting trade dress—the overall look of a product like colors, layouts, and designs—Justice Arora emphasized that years of use build goodwill and a “secondary meaning” in the market. Even small tweaks in style or graphics won’t cut it if the core design screams imitation, he said. The balance of convenience favors EBC, so the court ordered Rupa to halt all manufacturing, sales, and ads right away, pull back unsold stock, and scrub listings from online platforms.
The case heads back to court on February 25, 2025, for the next round.
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