Designer Gaurav Gupta Takes on Fashion Fakes

Delhi-based fashion designer Gaurav Gupta took legal action against counterfeiters producing fake luxury products under his brand name. Gupta filed nine cases in the Delhi High Court, seeking ₹2 crore in damages from each counterfeiter and aiming to get restraining orders. Most cases involved parties in Delhi, with others in Mumbai and Punjab. Out of the nine cases, three were decided in Gupta's favor, with the remaining six under interim injunction orders.

Gupta's legal representative, Siddharth Bambha, emphasized the significance of these cases in setting a precedent for protecting designers' rights. Bambha stated that the cases were a substantial move towards safeguarding intellectual property and deterring counterfeit activities. The court acknowledged RSPL's (Reflect Social Protection Pvt Ltd) intellectual property rights and the substantial damages caused by counterfeiters.

The fashion industry, which lost over $50 billion globally in 2020 due to counterfeiting, faced ongoing challenges. Gupta’s company deployed a dedicated team of advocates and investigators to tackle these counterfeit operations, which were identified through market and social media searches. Each case cost around ₹5-6 lakh, including ₹2 lakh for legal fees.