Supreme Court Backs JK Enterprises’ ‘London Pride’, Rejects Pernod Ricard’s Trademark Claim

Anish Dhawan

| 2025-09-19 | Industry & Events

JK Enterprises, Supreme Court of India, London Pride, Pernod Ricard, Blenders Pride, trademark dispute, legal battle, intellectual property, Indian whisky, business law

In a ruling that caps a five-year legal fight, the Supreme Court of India has upheld JK Enterprises’ right to sell whisky under the brand name London Pride, rejecting a trademark challenge by global spirits major Pernod Ricard, maker of Blenders Pride. According to JK Enterprises, the Court held on August 14, 2025 that the word “Pride” is a common expression and cannot be monopolised by a single company, and that London Pride does not infringe Blenders Pride.

How the case unfolded?

2020, Indore District Court: Pernod Ricard sued JK Enterprises over the use of “Pride,” seeking to stop the London Pride brand. JK Enterprises prevailed.
Madhya Pradesh High Court: Pernod Ricard appealed; the High Court again ruled in JK Enterprises’ favour, allowing London Pride to continue.
Supreme Court of India (Aug 14, 2025): The apex court upheld the High Court’s decision and declined Pernod Ricard’s plea for an injunction, affirming that “Pride” is not the preserve of any one brand.

What each side argued (as described by JK Enterprises)

Pernod Ricard, described by JK Enterprises as the world’s No. 2 wine and spirits company with 200+ brands, argued that London Pride breached its Blenders Pride trademark. JK Enterprises, a local Indore distillery, maintained that London Pride was independently conceived and that “Pride” is a generic, widely used term not owned by any single entity.

Company reaction

“This is not just a win for JK, but for every Indian entrepreneur who dares to dream,” said Saloni Chhabra, Director, JK Enterprises. She added that large multinationals often try to pressure local brands through litigation and that the company was “determined to withstand and pursue the litigation to its logical end.”

Why this matters?

If taken at face value, the Supreme Court’s stance, as conveyed by JK Enterprises, clarifies that common words like “Pride” cannot be ring-fenced through trademark enforcement alone. JK Enterprises believes the outcome will embolden local manufacturers to build and defend their brands and serve as a reminder for global firms to “play fairly by the rules.”