In a landmark decision concerning trademark protection, the Bombay High Court has issued an interim order prohibiting a collective of cab service providers from utilizing the highly recognizable ‘Jio’ trademark, which is the exclusive property of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). The order specifically addresses their unauthorized use of the mark for taxi services marketed under the domain name www.jiocabs.com.
This significant interim injunction was handed down by Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan on October 7, 2025. It came as a direct result of a lawsuit initiated by RIL, which accused the cab operators of both blatant trademark infringement and misleading consumers through ‘passing off’ their services as being associated with the well-known Jio brand.
Justice Sundaresan emphasized the serious repercussions of allowing the continued unauthorized use of a ‘well-known and protected brand name,’ stating it ‘would indeed cause grave injury’ to RIL. In granting this urgent ad-interim relief to the industrial giant, the judge highlighted that RIL had presented a compelling initial case (prima facie) for immediate judicial action. This was particularly crucial given the defendants’ actions and the strikingly deceptive resemblance between their marks and RIL’s officially registered trademarks.
During the proceedings, the court was apprised that the defendants—identified as Asif Ahmed (the domain registrant), Usman (proprietor of Doon Taxi Service), and P.D.R. Solutions LLC (the domain registrar)—were operating taxi services under the ‘Jiocabs’ name in cities like Dehradun and Delhi. They had also allegedly employed logos and artistic designs that bore a close likeness to RIL’s proprietary creative works, and their website even indicated Mumbai as a service area, further suggesting broader infringement.
Despite receiving a formal legal notice, the defendants had indeed altered their business name. However, Justice Sundaresan pointed out that the critical domain, www.jiocabs.com, alarmingly remained operational. He further asserted that ‘even the balance of convenience’ strongly favored granting the ad-interim relief, underscoring the necessity of the court’s intervention to protect RIL’s interests.
The comprehensive court order explicitly prohibits the defendants and all entities linked to them from using the ‘Jio’ name, its distinctive mark, or any other artistic rendering that could be deemed deceptively similar. This prohibition covers not only taxi services but also extends to any other goods or services they might offer, ensuring a broad protection for RIL’s brand.
Significantly, the protective scope of this order encompasses RIL’s trademarks registered across various international classifications. These include Class 9 for digital goods, Class 38 for telecommunications services, and Class 39, which specifically covers transport and travel services, thereby securing the ‘Jio’ brand across diverse commercial sectors.
Justice Sundaresan also referred to an earlier Bombay High Court order from 2021 that had firmly established ‘Jio’ as a ‘well-known trademark.’ This prior recognition bolstered RIL’s case, highlighting that the company holds 14 distinct registrations for the mark and has previously contended with its misuse across a minimum of 11 different domain names.
The case is now slated for a subsequent hearing on November 28, 2025, allowing the defendants a four-week period to formally submit their response to the court’s interim ruling.