2024 is just too interesting. We have not even completed one month and so many thingsare happening. Could you imagine a Jeans company filing a case against an OTT show? Well, you need not imagine as it has already happened. Killer Jeans maker Kewal Kiran Clothing Limited (KKCL) has filed a lawsuit against MacGuffin Pictures LLP and Netflix Entertainment Services India LLP for allegedly infringing on their ‘KILLER’ trademark. The bone of contention is the recently released web series titled “KILLER SOUP,” which KKCL claims misuses its well-established brand.
KKCL, the proud creator of “KILLER JEANS,” took their grievances to the Bombay High Court, seeking ₹10 crore in damages for what they deem as unauthorized use of their trademark. The lawsuit points out that the Netflix series, starring Manoj Bajpai and Konkona Sen Sharma, was released on January 11, 2024, with the controversial title.
The legal notice issued by KKCL’s legal team highlights 57 classes where they hold registered trademarks for ‘KILLER,’ spanning from 2001 to 2011. The notice asserts that KKCL’s ‘KILLER’ brand achieved widespread recognition due to product quality, effective marketing, and extensive advertising.
Notably, KKCL demanded that Netflix and MacGuffin Pictures cease using the term ‘KILLER’ in connection with their web series. In addition to this, they are seeking ₹10 crore as a token of damages for the alleged infringement. The notice demands unconditional apology and commit in writing not to violate KKCL’s intellectual property rights in the future.
Let’s see how this killer blow of 10 Crores is tackled by Netflix. Interestingly, the show was just called SOUP when it was in development but out of nowhere Netflix renamed it to Killer Soup. And now falls this…