Pepsi in HC against movie Youngistaan on trademark violation

Global softdrink major PepsiCo Inc has moved the Delhi High Court against the release of the film "Youngistaan", in which late Farooq Sheikh made his last appearance, alleging that its registered trademark and campaign by the same name has been violated by the producers.
Pepsi has sought a permanent injunction against the release of the movie, which is slated to hit theatres on March 28.
Justice A K Pathak has listed the matter for further hearing on February 24.
Senior advocate Pratibha Singh appeared for PepsiCo, while senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul represented the producers - MSM Motion Pictures, Pooja Entertainment and Films Ltd and Vashu Bhagnani.

Pepsi's plea, filed by advocate Bitika Sharma, has sought "restraining them (producers) from launching their movie under the impugned title 'Youngistaan' which is nothing but a blatant imitation of the plaintiff's (Pepsi) registered trademark".
Pepsi in its plea also alleged that it had issued a cease and desist notice to the producers to refrain from "advertising, promoting and releasing" the film, but instead of communicating with it in any manner whatsoever, "they (producers) have deliberately chosen to escalate the promotion and advertisements".
The producers replied to Pepsi's notice only after advertising the release date of their movie, the petition said.

The producers on February 6 had announced about the release of the movie on March 28.