New Delhi, October 10- In a rare and heartwarming conclusion to one of India’s longest-running trademark battles, the Delhi High Court on Friday recorded a mutual settlement between confectionery giants Mars Incorporated and Cadbury (India) Ltd. The case revolved around the ownership of the trademark “CELEBRATIONS,” a word that ironically symbolized joy even as it kept the two chocolate makers locked in legal combat for nearly twenty-five years.
The bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula observed that “even the most protracted disputes can find resolution when goodwill prevails,” while commending the parties for ending the dispute amicably just ahead of the festive season.
Background
The dispute dates back to the late 1990s when both Mars and Cadbury introduced chocolate assortments under the brand name Celebrations in different markets. What began as an overlapping branding issue eventually escalated into a series of lawsuits and oppositions before the Trade Marks Registry in India and abroad spanning over two decades.
The court’s record shows that both companies had filed multiple trademark oppositions and rectification proceedings under various classes, each seeking to protect their respective “CELEBRATIONS” mark for chocolates, confectionery, and packaged goods.
After several years of litigation, the parties signed a Settlement Agreement on July 3, 2025, agreeing to withdraw all opposition and rectification proceedings related to the mark in India.
Court’s Observations
Justice Narula’s order noted the “symbolic weight” of the case that a term associated with happiness had, for years, become a legal battleground. “Today, that long journey finds its conclusion. The curtains are drawn at last, not in discord, but in harmony,” the bench remarked, in lines that drew quiet smiles from both counsel tables.
Interestingly, what began as a corporate rivalry ended with an act of community goodwill. Both Mars and Cadbury volunteered of their own accord to distribute ₹5 lakh worth of their confectionery products each to schoolchildren across Delhi, under the supervision of the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) and the Directorate of Education.
“The approaching festival of Diwali is about sharing and renewal,” Justice Narula noted. “True celebration lies not in triumph over another, but in generosity towards others.”
The Court ensured safeguards too: if schools have policies discouraging sugary food distribution, the companies must offer nutritionally balanced alternatives of equivalent value.
Decision
Allowing the joint application under Order XXIII Rule 3 of the Civil Procedure Code, the Court decreed the suit in terms of the settlement and formally closed all pending proceedings between the parties. The voluntary Diwali distribution drive was recorded as part of the court’s order, with a direction for compliance affidavits to be filed after completion.
Before concluding, the bench captured the spirit of the moment in a single, poignant line:
“By choosing an amicable resolution, these two reputed companies, once adversaries, have together restored the plain sense of the trademark they long contested ‘CELEBRATIONS’ now denotes joy that is shared and not divided.”
With that, the Delhi High Court brought the curtain down on a 25-year saga of corporate rivalry, just in time for Diwali a true celebration in every sense.
Case Title: Mars Incorporated vs Cadbury (India) Ltd & Ors
Case Number: CS (COMM) 409/2018
Date of Order: October 10, 2025