Delhi High Court Restrains Rupa Publications from Selling Red-and-Black Coat-Pocket Constitution Similar to EBC Edition
Interim Injunction Issued After Prima Facie Finding of Deceptive Similarity
The Delhi High Court has restrained Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd. from publishing or selling its coat-pocket edition of the Constitution of India, citing deceptive similarity with the iconic red-and-black edition published by Eastern Book Company (EBC). Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the interim injunction order, noting that the trade dress was likely to cause confusion among consumers regarding the source or origin of the products.
EBC has produced portable coat-pocket editions marked by a distinctive red-and-black colour combination, gold leafing, and thin bible paper since 2009, earning widespread goodwill among legal professionals and the public. Senior Advocates Jayant Mehta and Swati Sukumar, representing EBC, presented evidence of the alleged imitation of essential features by Rupa Publications, which led to the loss of significant orders for EBC in September 2025.
The Court relied on precedent confirming the protection of distinctive colour combinations and trade dress under intellectual property law, finding the likelihood of consumer confusion and potential irreparable harm to EBC. It ordered the recall of unsold stock and instructed Rupa Publications to remove listings from all platforms. Similar restrained orders were passed against Young Global Publications and Professional Book Publishers.